title: Dysphagia in cervical spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of cervical spinal cord injury patients, who underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the swallowing function of cervical spinal cord injury patients, analyze the features of dysphagia and investigate their association with the clinical symptoms and signs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Yonsei Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study (1 May 2001-31 May 2008) on inpatients with tetraplegia. All enrolled patients underwent VFSS, and their results were correlated with clinical data including symptoms and signs indicative of dysphagia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 121 cervical spinal cord injury patients (106 male and 16 female patients) were included in this study. Ten patients showed evidence of aspiration on VFSS. Statistical correlation to aspiration was found with age, presence of tracheostomy, and symptoms and signs indicating dysphagia. However, out of the 10 patients with evident aspiration, 2 patients did not show any symptoms or signs indicating aspiration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the possibility of silent aspiration, we recommend that physicians treating patients with cervical spinal cord injury should always take the possibility of dysphagia and silent aspiration into consideration, especially in case of previous manifestation of pneumonia, presence of tracheostomy, or presence of signs and symptoms indicating dysphagia.
authors.affiliation: Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchong-dong,Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Goo
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult