Swallowing Disruptions after ACDF Surgery: The Novel Use of Acoustic Pharyngometry to Monitor Pharyngeal Edema

Brief description of study

A particular challenge to understanding the prevalence and pathophysiology of dysphagia (swallowing impairment) post-ACDF is teasing apart a short-term impairment caused by post-surgical edema from a more serious long-term iatrogenic injury to the swallowing nerves and muscles that are at risk during the surgery. Our goal is to develop methods for capturing pharyngeal edema and to collect data to help determine which patients developing swallowing disorders post-ACDF and the mechanisms of the impairments. All consenting patients scheduled for ACDF with Dr. Frempong-Boadu in the Neurosurgery Department will complete a comprehensive dysphagia assessment battery both pre-ACDF surgery and again 6 weeks post-ACDF surgery. Measures include: Validated PRO/QOL questionnaires, Videofluoroscopy (VF), acoustic pharyngometery measures and voice samples.




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