Cervicogenic dysphagia associated with cervical spondylosis: A case report and brief review

Abstract

Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) is most often related to another health problems, including brain or spinal cord injury, neurological damage, neuromuscular disorders, and anatomical conditions. Dysphagia can have detrimental effects on pulmonary health and also impact nutritional intake. The right treatment depends on the cause established. Cervicogenic dysphagia is a cervical cause of difficulty in swallowing. This report describes a 53-year-old female patient with sore throat, swallowing difficulty for solids, and acid reflux for 2 years. Radiographs revealed anterior osteophytic lipping and kyphosis of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar (right convex) scoliosis. After 6 months of chiropractic treatment, her complaints and spinal deformity were obviously resolved. Our case report is unique in that the patient had an unusual presentation, i.e. cervical osteophytes, cervical kyphosis, and thoracolumbar scoliosis, which are all contributable causes of dysphagia. Correction of spinal deformity could result in positive treatment outcomes in selected patients with symptoms of cervicogenic dysphagia.

Keywords

• cervical kyphosis
• cervical osteophyte
• cervicogenic dysphagia
• chiropractic
• scoliosis