Evaluating Dysphagia Duration and Severity After ACDF in Patients With Underlying Dysphagia - A Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Study design: Prospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the impact of preoperative dysphagia on the postoperative incidence and severity of dysphagia in patients undergoing ACDF at multiple institutions.

Methods: After IRB approval, patients over 18 years of age who underwent an elective ACDF for degenerative conditions were prospectively enrolled at two academic centers from 2018 to 2021. Preoperative dysphagia was self-reported by patients through a pre-operative questionnaire on a binary basis. Patients completed dysphagia surveys (Bazaz, Dysphagia Short Questionnaire, 10-item Eating Assessment Tool) to assess dysphagia severity during their preoperative visit, and these dysphagia surveys were repeated immediately postoperatively, at two weeks and again at six, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Patients were stratified into three subgroups based on dysphagia status preoperatively and immediately postoperatively and compared using ANOVA tests or Kruskal-Wallis tests for continuous variables and Pearson chi-square analysis or Fisher's Exact test for categorical variables.

Results: A total of 168 patients (23 with preoperative dysphagia, 145 without preoperative dysphagia) met study criteria and were enrolled in the study. Patients with preoperative dysphagia had less frequent alcohol consumption (23.8% vs 53.7%, P = .0210), and higher rates of dysphagia at 2-weeks (77.8% vs 38.7%, P = .004) and 24-weeks (43.8% vs 14.8%, P = .010) postoperatively. These patients also had higher severity scores for dysphagia on the Bazaz (P = .001), DSQ (P = .012), EAT10 (P = .022) questionnaires at the 2-week follow-up period, higher DSQ scores (P = .036) at the 6-week follow-up period, higher EAT-10 scores (P = .009) at the 12-week follow-up period, and higher Bazaz (P = .001), DSQ (P = .002), and EAT-10 (P = .005) scores at the 24-week follow-up period. There were no differences in demographic, medical history, surgical variables, rates of ENT consultation, length of stay, or other in-hospital events between groups.

Conclusions: Patients undergoing ACDF who had preoperative dysphagia have prolonged postoperative dysphagia and greater dysphagia severity. Surgeons should be aware of the risk of prolonged dysphagia severity that may persist past 24 weeks after surgery when discussing clinical decisions with patients.