Compression of the esophagus by the spine and the aorta in untreated scoliosis

• Published in: Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery Vol. 117; no. 6-7; pp. 405 - 407
• Main Authors: BAR-ON, E, HARARI, M, FLOMAN, Y, BAR-ZIV, J, MAAYAN, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.07.1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aorta, Thoracic; Biological and medical sciences; Coronary vessels; Deglutition Disorders - etiology; Deglutition Disorders - surgery; Disease-Free Survival; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Diseases of the spine; Esophageal Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Esophageal Stenosis - etiology; Esophageal Stenosis - surgery; Esophagus; Female; Fundoplication - methods; Gastrostomy - methods; Humans; Medical sciences; Ostomy; Scoliosis; Scoliosis - complications; Scoliosis - diagnostic imaging; Severity of Illness Index; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Human; Compression; Deformation; Spine; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Radiologic investigation; Spine disease; Esophagus; Case study; Scoliosis; Adult; Complication; Female; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0936-8051; 1434-3916
• DOI: 10.1007/s004020050280

An adult patient with severe scoliosis secondary to familial dysautonomia developed dysphagia and recurrent aspirations. Various imaging studies showed a mechanical obstruction of the esophagus due to compression between the spine and the aorta. The patient underwent a gastrostomy and fundoplication, with a significant decrease in symptoms. The case demonstrates one of the possible long-term consequences of untreated scoliosis.