Risk Factors for Dysphagia after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with the Zero-P Implant system: A Study with Minimum of 2 Years Follow-up

Abstract ObjectiveDysphagia is one of the most common complications after anterior cervical spine surgery. The study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with the Zero-P Implant System by multidimensional analysis and investigated the predictive values of these risk factors for dysphagia.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 260 patients who underwent ACDF with the Zero-P Implant System and had at least 2 year of follow-up ware performed. All patients were divided into a non-dysphagia group and a dysphagia group. Sex, age, body mass index (BMI), intraoperative time, estimated blood loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, alcohol consumption, prevertebral soft-tissue thickness, the levels of surgery, O-C2 angle, C2–7 angle, T1 slope and segmental angle were analyzed. Chi-square test and logistic regression were performed to analyze the predictive value of each dimension for dysphagia.ResultsIn total, the non-dysphagia group comprised 70 patients and the dysphagia group comprised 190 patients. Chi-square test results indicated that number of operated levels, operation time dT1 slope, dO-C2 angle, dC2–7 angle, segmental angle and dPSTT were associated with a high incidence of dysphagia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that number of operated levels, operation time, dC2–7 angle and dPSTT were significantly associated with postoperative dysphagia.ConclusionsNumber of operated levels, operation time, dC2–7 angle and dPSTT were significantly associated with postoperative dysphagia. In additionally, sufficient preoperative preparation, evaluation combining with proficient and precise treatment measures are suggested to reduce the incidence of postoperative dysphagia when ACDF is performed.