Abstract Background Dysphagia is one of the most serious complications in patients treated with a halo-vest brace.However, the cause of dysphagia development by halo-vest fixation is not yet clear.We therefore investigated the incidence of dysphagia and cervical alignment as well as clinical data from medical charts in patients treated with a halo-vest brace.
Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from the medical charts of 49 patients who had undergone halo-vest fixation.Occipito (O)-C2 angle, C2-C6 angle, and pharyngeal inlet angle baseball scoreboards for sale were assessed by lateral plain X-rays of the cervical spine.The impacts of these parameters on incidence and severity of dysphagia were analyzed.
Results Thirteen patients (32%) suffered from dysphagia during halo-vest fixation, and age and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay were greater in the dysphagia group (p = 0.044 and 0.013, respectively) than in those who did not develop dysphagia.
O-C2 angle was smaller in the dysphagia group (p = 0.016).After multivariate logistic analysis, body mass index, ICU stay, and O-C2 angle remained as independent risk factors related to incidence of dysphagia.
Spearman rank correlation showed a negative correlation between ICU stay and Food socialstudiesscholar.com Intake Level Scale (FILS) (p = 0.026), and a positive correlation between O-C2 angle and FILS (p = 0.008).
Conclusion This study suggested that O-C2 angle is related to both incidence and severity of dysphagia due to halo-vest fixation.