Prospective analysis of incidence and risk factors of dysphagia in spine surgery patients: comparison of anterior cervical, posterior cervical, and lumbar procedures.
METHODS
A 3-year prospective, cohort study.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the incidence and risk factors of dysphagia after anterior cervical (AC), posterior cervical (PC), and posterior lumbar (PL) spine procedures.


BACKGROUND
Dysphagia is a known risk of AC surgery; however, comprehensive postoperative swallow evaluations have not been performed for a comparative cohort of AC, PC, and PL surgery patients.


METHODS
Eighty-three patients were enrolled in the study, including 38 undergoing AC, 19 PC, and 26 PL procedures. Preoperative and postoperative swallowing evaluations were performed by questioning for subjective swallowing complaints and performing objective radiographic examination. Patients with severe dysphagia leading to an increased risk of aspiration were identified and treated until recovery or for 3 to 9 months.


RESULTS
Comparison of preoperative and postoperative swallowing complaints revealed a significant increase for AC patients (P < 0.01) and a trend for PC (P = 0.06) and PL (P = 0.09) patients. Eighteen (47%) AC, 4 (21%) PC, but no PL patients demonstrated dysphagia on postoperative videofluoroscopic swallow evaluation. Age (>60 years, P < 0.01) was associated with increased risk of radiologic evidence of dysphagia. Surgical level, instrumentation, operative time, and presence of myelopathy or other comorbidities were not. Over 70% (12 of 17) of AC patients with dysphagia followed recovered within 2 months, while 23% (4 of 17) required some level of compensatory swallowing behavior up to 10 months following surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Dysphagia is a common occurrence after AC procedures but was also found after PC procedures. Intubation alone was not a risk factor for postoperative dysphagia in this cohort.
Smith-Hammond
Carol A
CA
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. smith390@mc.duke.edu
New
Kent C
KC
Pietrobon
Ricardo
R
Curtis
David J
DJ
Scharver
Candice H
CH
Turner
Dennis A
DA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires