title: [Vertebragenic dysphagia].
abstract: Dysphagia due to external compression by anterior hyperostosis of the cervical spine is rare. The diagnosis may be established by conventional X-ray of the spine, oesophagogram, CT or MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We operated on one patient with an exostosis on the axis and another patient with large anterior osteophytes from C3 to C7 in Forestiers's disease. Postoperatively the patients were asymptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Painful dysphagia due to anterior hyperostosis of the cervical spine is an indication for surgery. The anterolateral extrapharyngeal approach from C3 to C7 and the transoral intrapharyngeal approach to the vertebra C2 are preferred. In cooperation between orthopaedics and ENT the surgical treatment has no major complications and gives good functional results.
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Universitätsklinik, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grasshoff
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Motsch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahlfeld
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004057:Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed