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 conventiona l 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 morpho logic changes of the cervical spine were the main cause of dysphagia. One p atient with progressive hypopharynx cancer had hyperostosis of cervical spi ne as secondary fndings. Results: The patients were asymptomatik, postopera tively. Conclusions: Cervical osteophytes can be detected in 20-30% of the population in a symptomatic patients. The therapeutic approach depends on t he extent of dysphagic complaints. Painful dysphagia is a indication for su rgery. The anterolateral extrapharyngeal approach is commonly preferred wit h anterior hyperostosis between C4 and C7. The transoral intrapharyngeal ap proach has been used in patients with hyperostosis of cervical vertebra C2/ C3. Interdisciplinary orthopedic and ENT surgical treatment is without comp lications and yields good Functional results.