In Brief:
A review of 2375 anterior cervical surgical procedures revealed 17 occurrences (0.7%) of postoperative (PO) hematoma. Identified risk factors were (1) diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, (2) ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, (3) therapeutic heparin use, (4) longer operative time, and (5) greater number of surgical levels. When appropriately treated, the occurrence of a PO hematoma was not found to impact neck disability index outcome scores.