Dysphagia After Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery

In Brief Study Design. Prospective study of 29 patients who underwent anterior cervical (AC) or posterior lumbar (PL) spinal surgery. A validated measure of dysphagia, the Swallowing–Quality of Life (SWAL-QOL) survey, was used to assess the degree of postoperative dysphagia. Objective. To determine the degree of dysphagia preoperatively and postoperatively in patients undergoing AC surgery compared with a control group that underwent PL surgery. Summary of Background Data. Dysphagia is a well-known complication of AC spine surgery and has been shown to persist for up to 24 months or longer. Methods. A total of 18 AC patients and a control group of 11 PL patients were prospectively enrolled in this study and were assessed preoperatively and at 3 weeks and 1.5 years postoperatively using a 14-item questionnaire from the SWAL-QOL survey to determine degree of dysphagia. Other patient factors and anesthesia records were examined to evaluate their relationship to dysphagia. Results. There were no significant differences between the AC and PL groups with respect to age, sex, body mass index, or length of surgery. The SWAL-QOL scores at 3 weeks were significantly lower for the AC group than for the PL group (76 vs. 96; P = 0.001), but there were no differences between the groups preoperatively or at final follow-up. Smokers, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and women had lower SWAL-QOL scores at one or more time point. Conclusion. Patients undergoing AC surgery had a significant increase in the degree of dysphagia 3 weeks after surgery compared with patients undergoing PL surgery. By final follow-up, swallowing in the AC group recovered to a level similar to preoperative and comparable to that in patients undergoing lumbar surgery at 1.5 years. Smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and female sex are possible factors in the development of postoperative dysphagia. Prospective study of 29 patients comparing postoperative dysphagia in patients who underwent anterior cervical and posterior lumbar spinal surgeries. Anterior cervical surgery resulted in significantly more dysphagia 3 weeks after surgery but was similar 1.5 years after surgery. Smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and female sex were significant risk factors for dysphagia.