Voice and Swallowing Outcomes Following… | Clinical Trial

Key information

Conditions

Dysphagia Deglutition Disorders Digestive System Diseases Dysphonia Esophageal Diseases Gastrointestinal Diseases Laryngeal Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pharyngeal Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Signs and Symptoms Voice Disorders

Age range

19 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

UAB

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States

About this study

Anterior Cervical Decompression and fusion is one of the most common spinal surgical procedures performed in the United States. Common complications of this type of surgery are difficulty swallowing and nerve dysfunction that can effect voice. The chance of having voice and swallowing disturbances increases if this type of surgery has to be repeated. The purpose of this study is to document the voice and swallowing function of patients undergoing this type of surgery in an effort to find better ways to identify and treat these common complications.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients undergoing revision anterior cervical spine surgery

Exclusion criteria

Primary pathology of the upper aero-digestive tract other than mild chronic pharyngitis, pre-existing vocal cord paralysis.

Treatment and study plan

Voice and Swallowing evaluations

Other

Fiberoptic exam to evaluate vocal cord and swallowing function

Primary outcomes

Vocal cord and swallowing function as measured by fiberoptic exam in the otolaryngology clinic pre-op and approximately 3 weeks post op.

Time frame: 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

Quality of life as measured by a self-administered 10 point questionnaire.

Time frame: 4 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2009
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Nov 20, 2009
Registry last updated: Jan 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed