title: Efficacy of postoperative radiograph for evaluating the prevertebral soft tissue swelling after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After surgery for degenerative spinal disease by the anterior approach, the degree of soft tissue swelling can be assessed simply using plain radiographs. However, there are little studies according to the surgical methods or extent of surgery, and no study had addressed the clinical meaning of swelling determined by plain radiography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of prevertebral soft tissue swelling (PSTS) after anterior cervical fusion with plate fixation for the treatment of degenerative cervical spinal disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-five patients that underwent anterior cervical fusion with plate augmentation for degenerative cervical spondylosis were included in this study. PSTS differences were analyzed with respect to numbers of fusion segments and location of fusion. Cases were divided into two groups based on the amount of PSTS, and incidences of dyspnea, dysphagia, dysphonia were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PSTS increments were significantly greater in patients that had undergone multi-level or high-level fusion. Complications of dyspnea, dysphagia and dysphonia were found more frequently in patients with marked PSTS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increments of PSTS after anterior cervical fusion for degenerative spinal disorders are greater and incidences of complications are higher in patients that undergo multi-level or high-level fusion. Thus, measurement of PSTS using consecutive cervical lateral radiographs after anterior cervical surgery is clinically meaningful procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Byung-Wan
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hye-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Taek-Su
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000601:surgery*