ANTERIOR CERVICAL OSTEOPHYTE DYSPHAGIA: MANOFLUOROGRAPHIC AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES AFTER SURGERY

Background. Our aim was to investigate the clinical and manofluorographic findings of patients with anterior cervical osteophyte (ACO) dysphagia before and after surgery. Methods. Chart review including manofluorography (MFG) data of patients undergoing ACO removal was undertaken. Results. Thirteen patients underwent transcervical ACO removal over a 10-year period. A postoperative hematoma was the only surgical complication. Overall, there was a significant postoperative decrease in Functional Outcome Swallowing Scale (FOSS). MFG data showed an elevated preoperative intrabolus pressure gradient across the osteophyte (IB-Gra), 39.78 mm Hg, and IB-Gra significantly decreased to 19 mm Hg 6 months after surgery. Conclusion. Functional (FOSS) and objective MFG (IB-Gra) improvements occurred in patients who had ACO dysphagia and underwent surgery. These findings support high IB-Gra as a reliable objective indicator for surgical intervention for ACO dysphagia and IB-Gra as an appropriate parameter for follow-up after ACO removal. In selected patients, ACO removal by anterolateral-transcervical approach is a safe and highly effective treatment. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 32: 588-593, 2010