Abstract
We herein report a 61-year-old man who sustained injury after a 2-m fall and developed mediastinitis. He presented to another hospital two days after the fall and was transferred to our hospital four days after the fall with a fever and dysphagia. Computed tomography revealed osteophytes on the second and third thoracic vertebrae and free air in the mediastinum, indicating esophageal perforation. Emergent surgery was performed. Intraoperatively, a longitudinal esophageal tear was identified. We stress the importance of being aware of the possibility of osteophyte-related esophageal perforation in patients with a history of a fall. A delayed diagnosis affects the prognosis.