Posttraumatic anterior cervical osteophyte and dysphagia: surgical report and literature review

Degenerative changes in the cervical spine can produce osteophytes and other hypertrophic abnormalities. Asymptomatic osteophytes of the anterior margins of the cervical vertebrae may occur in 20-30% of the population. Occasionally, dysphagia or dysphonia may be caused by such cervical osteophytes pressing against the esophagus or trachea. Recently, the authors treated a patient with posttraumatic dysphagia and dysphonia secondary to osteophytic spurring of the anterior cervical spine. This 43-year-old man presented 2 years after sustaining a flexion/extension soft tissue injury to his cervical spine. Radiographic studies depict the progression of his osteophyte growth, which resulted in surgical intervention to relieve his inability to swallow solid foods. One year follow-up studies demonstrate normal alignment and no instability. A search of the literature revealed approximately 75 previously reported cases of anterior osteophyte-induced dysphagia, with the majority secondary to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. The literature briefly mentions trauma as a possible etiology of anterior osteophytosis; however, our case is unique, as it documents the time course and progression of the pathologic process.