Results after the surgical treatment of anterior cervical hyperostosis causing dysphagia

The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of a case series of patients with dysphagia resulting from diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) of the cervical spine who were treated surgically with resection and fusion.

A retrospective study was performed on all patients who presented (2005-2013) with complaints of dysphagia or respiratory compromise and who underwent anterior cervical osteophyte resection with fusion (polyether ether ketone cage and/or plate system) using an anterior approach. All patients were diagnosed with DISH and underwent preoperative esophageal and laryngoscopic examinations and a fluoroscopic swallowing study. Initial non-operative strategies were performed, including diet, change in head position during swallowing, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pantoprazole.

A total of six patients with DISH were included. The mean age was 67 ± 5 years. All patients were male and had symptoms of dysphagia and neck pain, one had simultaneous airway complaints, and another had regurgitation with a sleep disorder. All patients had significant improvements in dysphagia, respiratory complaints and regurgitation 6 weeks after surgery. The postoperative radiographs showed complete removal of the compressive structures. There were no postoperative complications. At the final follow-up (23 ± 8 months), the radiographic examinations showed no pathological regrowth, and the patients reported no recurrence of dysphagia.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis may lead to osteophyte-associated pathologies of the aerodigestive tract. Preoperative investigations with esophageal and laryngoscopic examinations combined with fluoroscopic swallowing tests are essential. Surgical decompression through osteophytectomy and fusion is an effective management strategy in selected patients and should be considered when non-operative strategies have failed.