AUTHOR=Xu Cuiyu , Ding Maoyu , Yang Yumei , Dong Chunke , Xu Xiaolong , Qu Zhicheng , Guo Wei , Cao Ying 

TITLE=Postoperative myelitis subsequent to cervical spine radiofrequency ablation: a case report

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1570965

DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2025.1570965

ISSN=2296-875X

ABSTRACT=Commonly used minimally invasive treatment for cervical spondylotic diseases, cervical spine radiofrequency ablation (RFA) provides benefits of faster recovery and less trauma. However, data on the monitoring and management of postoperative complications, especially severe adverse events like myelitis, is limited. This case report details a 75-year-old female patient with a medical history of hypertension, cerebral infarction, and hyperlipidemia who subsequently developed myelitis after undergoing cervical spine radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The patient received effective treatment following a sequence of diagnostic and therapeutic measures, highlighting the risk of severe complications and the vital necessity of maintaining rigorous aseptic protocols during the procedure. This report extensively discusses the etiology of myelitis in this patient and explores the direct or indirect role of RFA in the development of myelitis.