Dysphagia Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery; Single Dose Steroid vs Saline (DysDexVSSal)
Dysphagia
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Dysphagia
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Elective anterior approach to subaxial cervical spine (C3 - T1);
- ages 18-80
Exclusion Criteria:
- Traumatic or tumor etiologies
- undergoing anterior-posterior operations
- neoplastic, or infectious conditions requiring surgery
- a history of previous anterior cervical spine surgery
- any patient requiring a halo vest
- patients on chronic steroids
- patients remaining intubated post-operatively (please see more under risks below)
- less than 18 years of age
- pregnant women
- no phone
Sites / Locations
- West Virginia University Department of Orthopaedics
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Treatment 1; Dexamethasone
Treatment 0; Placebo
Drug: Treatment 1; Dexamethasone. Patients undergoing elective anterior cervical spine surgery will be seen by spine surgeons. After consent the Bazaz, EAT 10 and Dysphagia Short Questionnaire will be administered at baseline prior to surgery, Day 1, Day 2, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Patients will be randomized to either the single dose steroid administration group or the single dose saline administration group. Patients randomized to the experimental (steroid) group will receive a single dose, 0.3 mg/kg of body weight of intravenous dexamethasone within one hour of the incision. Patients in the control(saline) group will receive a single dose of saline, 0.3 mg/kg of body weight within one hour of incision.
Drug: Treatment 0; Saline placebo. Patients undergoing elective anterior cervical spine surgery will be seen by spine surgeons. After consent the Bazaz, EAT 10, and Dysphagia Short Questionnaire will be administered at baseline prior to surgery, Day 1, Day 2, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Patients will be randomized to either the steroid administration group or the saline administration group. Patients randomized to the experimental (steroid) group will receive a single dose, 0.3 mg/kg of body weight of intravenous dexamethasone within one hour of the incision. Patients in the control(saline) group will receive a single dose of saline, 0.3 mg/kg of body weight within one hour of the incision.