Long-term results of surgical treatment of dysphagia secondary to cervical diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.
BACKGROUND
Large, prominent osteophytes along the anterior aspect of the cervical spine have been reported as a cause of dysphagia. Improvement of swallowing after surgical resection has been reported in a few case reports with short-term follow-up. The current report describes outcomes of a series of five patients with surgical treatment for this rare disorder, with a long-term follow-up.


OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a case series of patients surgically treated for dysphagia secondary to cervical diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH).


METHODS
Retrospective review of a case series.


METHODS
Five cases from a University Hospital.


METHODS
Clinical and imagenological follow-up.


METHODS
The records of five patients with dysphagia who had undergone anterior surgical resection of prominent osteophytes secondary to DISH were reviewed. Extrinsic esophageal compression secondary to anterior cervical osteophytes was radiographically confirmed via preoperative barium esophagogram swallowing study. All patients underwent anterior cervical osteophytes resection without fusion. Postoperatively, patients were followed-up clinically and radiographically with routine lateral cervical radiographs.


RESULTS
Preoperative esophagogram showed that the esophageal obstruction was present at one level in three cases and two levels in two cases. The C3-C4 level was involved in three cases, C4-C5 in three cases, and C5-C6 in one case. There were no postoperative complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, wound infection, or hematomas. All patients had resolution of dyphagia soon after surgery (within 2 weeks). Postoperative radiographs demonstrated complete removal of osteophytes. At final follow-up, ranging from 1 to 9 years (average 59.8 months, median 53 months), no patients reported recurrence of dysphagia. Final radiographic examination demonstrated minimal regrowth of the osteophytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Although rarely indicated, surgical resection of anterior cervical osteophytes from DISH causing dyphagia produces good clinical and radiographical outcomes. After thorough evaluation to rule out other intrinsic or extrinsic causes of swallowing difficulty, surgical treatment of this uncommon condition might be considered.
Urrutia
Julio
J
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Marcoleta 352, Santiago, Region Metropolitana, Chile. jurrutia@med.puc.cl
Bono
Christopher M
CM
D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004057:Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies