CERVICAL OSTEOMYELITIS FOLLOWING TONSILLECTOMY

We present a case of fatal cervical osteomyelitis following an electiv e tonsillectomy in a previously tit young man. Following induction of general anaesthesia, and prior to surgery, the patient received bilate ral glossopharyngeal nerve blocks with 0.5% bupivacaine and adrenaline 1:200 000. The initial recovery was uneventful but persistent throat and neck pain developed at home which was diagnosed as a throat infect ion and possible hyperextension injury of the neck. It is impossible t o sav how much the dissection of chronically infected tonsils or the i nfiltration of local anaesthetic into or near a potentially infected a rea contributed to the development of cervical osteomyelitis. The abse nce of any other symptoms and signs, a normal blood count and cervical spine X-ray, and the rarity of cervical osteomyelitis, all contribute d to a delay in diagnosis.