Effectiveness of Postoperative Wound Drains in One- and Two-Level Cervical Spine Fusions

Intraoperative fluoroscopy performed after a C4-C5 anterior decompression and fusion on a 44 year old female presenting with herniated nucleus pulposus and radiculopathy. Patient received a postoperative JP drain. Minimal peri-incisional edema and sinus bradycardia noted on postoperative day 0 (POD0). On POD1 patient was noted to be complaining of chest pain, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.