Intraoperative Traction May Induce Acute Onset Dysphagia With Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis After Anterior Cervical Discectomy

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a systemic bone-forming disease, and its pathogenesis remains unknown. Moreover, the incidence of DISH increases with age. DISH may be an age-related disorder that occurs more frequently in degenerative spines than in healthy spines. Most patients with DISH of the cervical spine are asymptomatic; however, mechanical compression of the esophagus by the cervical spine can induce dysphagia, hoarseness, and dyspnea. In most cases, dysphagia progresses slowly. Most cases of postoperative dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery occurred within 1 month, and most patients recovered spontaneously. Severe dysphagia is relatively uncommon. Here, we report a case of acute-onset dysphagia with DISH that occurred immediately after anterior cervical discectomy. We should consider the possibility of dysphagia occurring immediately after anterior cervical discectomy in patients with DISH, even in those without dysphagia before surgery. Furthermore, surgical treatment for severe postoperative dysphagia associated with DISH may be a good option.