Influence of craniofacial morphology on hyoid movement: a preliminary correlational study.

There has been little attention given to the relationship between variations in normal craniofacial morphology and swallowing physiology. This preliminary investigation evaluated the relationship between the Frankfort-mandibular plane angle (FMA) and hyoid displacement during swallowing. Hyoid movement was evaluated during 12-ml and 24-ml swallows of liquid barium in 12 healthy subjects (age = 20-29 years, median = 23 years).

Racial disparities in the development of dysphagia after stroke: analysis of the California (MIRCal) and New York (SPARCS) inpatient databases.

Objectives: To determine whether the proportion of patients with stroke experiencing dysphagia differs among racial groups and whether this relation can be explained by stroke type or severity.

Design: Case-control study using California's Medical Information Reporting and New York's Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System databases for 2002. Cases had primary diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease (International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision [ICD-9] codes 430-438.

Do racial disparities exist in access to inpatient stroke rehabilitation in the state of Maryland?

Objective: Black patients tend to have a greater number and severity of stroke cases. The literature on access to rehabilitative services shows mixed results ranging from no disparities to limited access among minority populations. This study evaluated the association of race and acute discharge to inpatient stroke rehabilitation in Maryland, a diagnostic related group-and postacute care prospective payment system-exempt state.

[Dysphagia severity scale].

A simple, broadly applicable, standardized dysphagia severity scale would be useful to standardize dysphagia evaluations, to monitor recovery and efficacy of treatment and to study the consequences of dysphagia. We developed a global Dysphagia Severity Scale (DSS) from videofluorographic swallowing studies which included subjective clinical ratings of functional swallowing. We rated laryngeal penetration/aspiration (P/A) and pharyngeal retention (PR), and then assessed methods for scoring severity of P/A and PR and for combining them in a global scale.