Spontaneous contralateral pneumothorax: a rare but potential complication of anterior cervical total disk arthroplasty—a case report

During anterior cervical spine surgery, contralateral pneumothorax can occur. This may happen due to the 30-degree positioning, positive pressure ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure/continuous positive airway pressure, and potential pressure differential separating the tracheoesophageal complex from the pre-vertebral potential space. There are no current preventative measures for pneumothorax during anterior cervical spine surgery with standard techniques, but it is important not to dismiss the condition based solely on initial negative imaging results. Spontaneous contralateral pneumothorax is not commonly recognized as a complication of anterior cervical spine surgery; however, physicians should be aware of the possibility of its occurrence.