MONDAY, Jan. 16 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with multiple-level fusion after anterior spinal surgery, postoperative dysphagia can be reduced by use of preoperative tracheal/esophageal traction exercise (TTE) treatment, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in Spine.
Zhi Chen, M.D., from Shanghai Changhai Hospital, and colleagues investigated whether a novel preoperative TTE treatment had an effect on postoperative dysphagia for patients with multiple-level fusion after anterior cervical spine surgery. Patients were randomized to two groups: one group received TTE treatment for three consecutive days before the surgery, while the control group did not. The neck disability index (NDI), visual analog scales (VAS) for arm and neck pain, and a dysphagia index (Bazaz Dysphagia Scores) were measured at one week, three weeks, six weeks, three months, and six months after surgery.
The investigators found that, in the first week following surgery and at three weeks following surgery, patients with second- to fourth-level fusion in the TTE group had significantly better Bazaz dysphagia scores than those in the control group. NDI and VAS did not differ significantly between the groups.
"Dysphagia could be reduced in patients with multiple-level fusion after anterior cervical spine surgery by preoperative TTE treatment," the authors conclude.
Abstract
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