European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a prospective study comparing two anterior surgical approaches.
The Smith-Robinson approach is commonly used to expose the vertebrae in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Postoperative dysphagia has been frequently reported following this procedure. In this approach, surgical dissection can be carried out either lateral (LEO) or medial (MEO) to the omohyoid muscle. The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of dysphagia between the LEO and MEO groups. ⋯ The findings from this study suggest that the LEO approach should be selected if the level of surgery involves C3-C4. For C6-C7 surgery, however, a left-sided MEO approach should be used. Depending on surgeon's preference, either approach can be used if both cervical levels are involved.