[Anterior hyperostosis of the cervical spine: diagnostic studies and surgical therapy].

BACKGROUND

Dysphagia due external compression by anterior hyperostosis of the cervical spine is rare. The diagnosis may be established by conventional X-ray of the spine, esophagogram, and CT.

PATIENTS: We operated on three patients with large anterior osteophytes from C3 to C7. In two cases morphologic changes of the cervical spine were the main cause of dysphagia. One patient with progressive hypopharynx cancer had hyperostosis of cervical spine as secondary findings.

RESULTS

The patients were asymptomatic, post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical osteophytes can be detected in 20-30% of the population in asymptomatic patients. The therapeutic approach depends on the extent of dysphagic complaints. Painful dysphagia is a indication for surgery. The anterolateral extrapharyngeal approach is commonly preferred with anterior hyperostosis between C4 and C7. The transoral intrapharyngeal approach has been used in patients with hyperostosis of cervical vertebra C2/C3. Interdisciplinary orthopedic and ENT surgical treatment is without complications and yields good functional results.