• Lee H Riley, Richard L Skolasky, Todd J Albert, Alexander R Vaccaro, and John G Heller.
• Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. ehenze1@jhmi.edu
• Spine. 2005 Nov 15; 30 (22): 2564-9.

Study DesignRetrospective analysis of the incidence and prevalence of dysphagia after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF).ObjectivesTo examine the incidence and prevalence of dysphagia after ACDF, determine possible associated patient and procedural characteristics, and examine dysphagia's impact on long-term health status and function.Summary Of Background DataDysphagia is a common early complaint after ACDF, but the risk factors associated with its development are not understood.MethodsTelephone surveys (Cervical Spine Outcomes Questionnaire) and clinical assessments (Oswestry Neck Disability Scale and SF-36) were used to evaluate 454 patients who had undergone ACDF at one of 23 nationwide sites for individual and procedure characteristics that might contribute to dysphagia.ResultsOf the 454 patients, 30% reported dysphagia at the 3-month assessment (incident cases). The incidence of new complaints of dysphagia at each follow-up point was 29.8%, 6.9%, and 6.6% at 3, 6, and 24 months, respectively. Dysphagia persisted at 6 and 24 months in 21.5% and 21.3% of patients, respectively. The risk of dysphagia increased with number of surgical vertebral levels at 3 months: 1 level, 42 of 212 (19.8%); 2 levels, 50 of 150 (33.3%); 3+ levels, 36 of 92 (39.1%). Patients reporting dysphagia at 3 months had a significantly higher self-reported disability and lower physical health status at subsequent assessments.ConclusionDuration of preexisting pain and the number of vertebral levels involved in the surgical procedure appear to influence the likelihood of dysphagia after ACDF.

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