Swallowing function after occipitocervical arthrodesis for cervical deformity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Some patients develop dysphagia after OC arthrodesis with RA. A previous report has indicated that establishing appropriate occipito-C2 is important for avoiding these side effects. However, a more recent report has demonstrated that the O-C2 angle did not have a significant effect on the incidence of postoperative dysphagia.