How Long Do Swallowing and Voice Problems Last After C-Spine Surgery ACDF?

I often see patients for swallowing and/or voice difficulties after cervical spine surgery (ACDF) . In the vast majority of cases, reassurance that such "side effects" are not uncommon is the only thing I need to provide after a complete exam. After all, both the voice box and swallowing tube are manipulated and pushed over to one side in order to perform cervical spine surgery from an anterior approach. Check out the video below that illustrates how this happens. Beyond reas…

12/29/2013 1

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How Does Cervical Spine Surgery Potentially Cause Voice and Swallow Problems? [video]

It is not unusual for an ENT surgeon to see patients with swallowing and voice difficulties after cervical spine surgery. In particular, the ACDF surgery (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion). The key to understanding these issues is to first understand the anatomy involved. The cervical spine is located in the back of the neck. In front of this spine is the esophagus (swallowing tube) and voicebox . As such, when a spine surgeon goes through the FRONT of the neck in order to per…

4/04/2012 38

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Strong Sneeze Broke Woman's Neck

Fox News reported yesterday about an Australian woman, Monique Jeffrey, who sneezed SO hard that she broke her neck... literally. According to the neurosurgeon the patient eventually saw, her C1 and C2 vertebrae had dislocated and were displaced which resulted in her symptoms of excruciating pain with her head locked to her right shoulder and in too much pain to move anything but her right arm. Her left arm was also numb with tingling. She was placed in a halo traction for three months w…

3/28/2012 0

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