Swallowing and speech dysfunction in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a prospective, objective preoperative and postoperative assessment.

Swallowing difficulties and dysphonia may occur in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The etiology and incidence of these abnormalities, however, are not well defined. In view of this, we performed a prospective, objective analysis of swallowing function and vocal cord approximation in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.