Recovery After Surgery for Cervical Spine Anomalies in Children

Postoperative Orders 

• Imaging to check spine: Plain films and CT scans are obtained the day after surgery to confirm instrumentation placement and success of the reduction, if performed.
• Analgesia: Postoperative pain relief is usually met with a combination of intravenous ketorolac, diazepam, and morphine.
• Inpatient rehabilitation: Inpatient rehabilitation may occasionally be required.

Postoperative Morbidity

• Pain at incision site: Aside from postoperative analgesia, a good-fitting custom rigid cervical collar can decrease pain at the operative site by reducing neck motion.
• Dysphagia or hoarse voice: These may occasionally be present after an anterior cervical approach and almost always go away within a week.
• Wound swelling: Typically wound swelling is not a problem, and drains are rarely used after these procedures.