J Korean Dysphagia Soc.  2015 Jul;5(2):66-70.

Improvement of Dysphagia after Anterior Cervical Screw Removal: Case Report

• Kim SW
• Shin JB
• Jeon HR

Abstract

Dysphagia is common complication which might occur in spinal cord injury patients after anterior cervical fusion procedure. But it is rare to have anterior cervical fusion removal for dysphagia and thus such cases are difficult to find. Therefore, we are reporting the case where the symptoms of dysphagia, caused by posterior and anterior fusion in spinal cord injury patient, were improved after anterior fusion removal. It was 64 years old male patient who had C2-6 compressive myelopathy, which was caused by falling down from the bed, and later he received Posterior Spine Fusion (PSF) and Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF). After that, he showed gradual recovery of muscle strength but dysphagia was continued and thus percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube insertion was done. Rehabilitation therapy was done for dysphagia but its symptoms continued and thus anterior cervical screw removal was done. After that, dysphagia was improved and PEG tube removal was done 6 months after anterior plate removal. Anterior fusion removal can improve symptoms of dysphagia and increase the quality of life of the patient in selected cases.

Keyword

Cervical fusion; Deglutition disorder; Spinal cord injuries