• Kristen E Radcliff, Loukas Koyonos, Corey Clyde, Gursukhman S Sidhu, Michael Fickes, Alan S Hilibrand, Todd J Albert, Alexander R Vaccaro, and Jeffrey A Rihn.
• Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. kris.radcliff@rothmaninstitute.com
• Spine. 2013 Jun 1;38(13):1082-8.

Study DesignProspective comparative study.ObjectiveTo determine whether dysphagia is a unique complication of anterior neck dissection or whether it occurs after any cervical surgery.Summary Of Background DataDysphagia is a common complication after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. However, current literature is scarce whether dysphagia occurs as a direct result of the anterior approach (dissection or instrumentation) or because of cervical spine surgery itself.MethodsPatients undergoing posterior cervical surgery were prospectively evaluated for dysphagia up to 6 months after surgery. Patients were evaluated for dysphagia preoperatively, at 2 weeks and 6 weeks postoperatively using the dysphagia numeric rating scale. The data was compared with a previously published cohort of anterior cervical and lumbar surgical procedures from the same institution. Statistical significance was evaluated using the Fisher exact test.ResultsEighty-five patients were included who underwent posterior cervical surgery. Baseline dysphagia was present in 11% (10/85) of patients. The incidence of new dysphagia was 10 of 85 (11%) at 2 weeks, 8 of 85 (8%) at 6 weeks, 13 of 85 (13%) at 12 weeks, and 5 of 85 (6%) at 24 weeks. The incidence of new dysphagia was significantly less than that of anterior cervical surgery at 2 weeks (posterior [P] 11% vs. anterior [A] 61.5%, P = 0.0001), 6 weeks (P 8% vs. A 44%, P = 0.0001), but not 12 weeks (P 13% vs. A 11%, P = 1). The incidence of dysphagia after posterior cervical surgery was significantly increased compared with that of lumbar surgery at 2 weeks (P 11% vs. lumbar surgery [L] 9%, P = 0.78), 6 weeks (P 8% vs. L 0%, P = 0.02), and 12 weeks (P 13% vs. L 0%, P = 0.007). At 12 weeks postoperatively, there was a statistically significant increase in postoperative neck pain (P = 0.008), tightness (P = 0.032), and peripheral pain/numbness (P = 0.032) in patients with dysphagia.ConclusionBoth anterior and posterior cervical surgery may result in long-term dysphagia in a small number of patients, perhaps due to loss of motion or postoperative pain. Surgeons should counsel their patients about possibility for dysphagia prior to all cervical spine surgery.

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