Study Results
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Basic Information
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ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
NA
50 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-12-10
2025-12-31
Brief Summary
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If the symptomatology and severity of swallowing difficulties following ACDF surgery can be reduced by gargling with warm salt water.
Researchers will compare the control and interventional arms to see if the proposed intervention of gargling with warm salt water improves difficulty swallowing following surgery.
Patients in the control arm will be asked to:
\- Complete three (3) questionnaires at specified intervals (preoperative, postoperative day (POD) 1, 2, and 7; and at 1-month postoperatively).
Patients in the experimental/interventional arm will be asked to:
* Complete three (3) questionnaires at specified intervals (preoperative, postoperative day (POD) 1, 2, and 7; and at 1-month postoperatively).
* Gargle with a warm saltwater solution once on POD 0, and thrice daily from POD 1 to POD 7.
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Detailed Description
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Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, often signifies structural or functional abnormalities in any of the three phases of swallowing and contributes to higher self-reported disability and lower physical health status. Dysphagia is a common postoperative complication following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures. While most experience mild and transient symptoms, some individuals endure severe dysphagia, leading to significant postoperative morbidity.
Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of corticosteroids administered intraoperatively during ACDF procedures. One prospective, randomized, double-blinded study, showed favorable results with local corticosteroid administration, resulting in a significant decrease in dysphagia during the immediate postoperative period to 1-month postoperatively. Although other studies have also reported favorable outcomes with corticosteroid use, they are still associated with considerable risks of adverse events. Corticosteroids have been linked to a higher incidence of postoperative infection, impairment of wound healing, and a 2- to 5-fold increase in wound complications across a variety of surgical specialties.
Salt water, also known as saline is associated with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and wound healing properties. Warm salt water rinses offer a more accessible, cost-effective alternative to corticosteroids, without their associated adverse effects. The study aims to investigate the efficacy of gargling salt water in reducing the severity and symptoms of swallowing difficulties following multi-level ACDF procedures.
This study is a single-center, prospective, randomized control trial. Only patients ≥ 18 years of age who are undergoing a multi-level (2-, 3-, or 4-level ACDF) and meet the general inclusion criterion will be invited to participate in the study.
Methodology:
1. Patients will be screened using the general inclusion/exclusion parameters
2. Patients will be randomized into one of two groups: control or experimental using a 1:1 ratio
3. Patients will complete three (3) questionnaires at selected time points throughout the study duration
4. Patients in the experimental arm will be asked to gargle with a saltwater solution one (1) time on POD 0 and three (3) times per day with approximately 15 milliliters (mL) per mouthful for seven (7) days (POD 1 - POD 7) + scheduled questionnaires
5. Patients in the control arm will only be asked to complete the scheduled questionnaires
Required questionnaires:
1. Swallow Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL)
2. Visual Analogue Scale - Neck (VAS Neck)
3. Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10)
General study execution:
Patients in the interventional arm will be provided with a premade sodium chloride (sterile saltwater solution), 8-ounce-marked measuring cups, and a detailed instruction sheet with the relevant contacts for the study.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
NONE
Study Groups
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Control
This arm will receive no intervention. The patients in this arm will only be asked to complete the questionnaires related to the study. They will only receive the care as prescribed by their physician and care teams.
No interventions assigned to this group
Salt Water Gargle
After their surgery, this arm will receive "treatment." Patients will be asked to gargle with a warm sodium chloride (salt water) solution. Patients will gargle with 15mL (15cc) of a premade solution of salt water one time (q.d.) on postoperative day 0 (POD 0), and three times a day (t.i.d.) for the next seven (7) days following their surgery (POD 1 - POD 7). Patients will also be asked to complete a series of study-related questionnaires at specified time points.
Sodium chloride gargle
15mL salt water gargle
Interventions
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Sodium chloride gargle
15mL salt water gargle
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Patients undergoing a multi-level (2-, 3-, or 4-level) ACDF procedure
* Single-approach (anterior only) ACDF - English or Spanish-speaking patients
* Undergoing treatment at Keck Medical Center of USC
Exclusion Criteria
* Patients undergoing any revision ACDF procedure
* Patients undergoing ACDF with combined approaches (i.e. anterior + posterior)
* Patients with spinal pathologies or deformities that are non-degenerative or idiopathic (i.e. trauma, infection, malignancy, or tumor)
* Patients with a prior diagnosis related to swallowing issues (i.e. esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, Sjogren syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), or laryngitis)
* Patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥ 4
18 Years
80 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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University of Southern California
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Ram Alluri
Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery
Principal Investigators
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Ram K Alluri, M.D.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery
Locations
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Keck Medical Center of the University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, United States
Countries
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References
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Adenikinju AS, Halani SH, Rindler RS, Gary MF, Michael KW, Ahmad FU. Effect of perioperative steroids on dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: A systematic review. Int J Spine Surg. 2017 Mar 6;11(2):9. doi: 10.14444/4009. eCollection 2017.
Anderson KK, Arnold PM. Oropharyngeal Dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: a review. Global Spine J. 2013 Dec;3(4):273-86. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1354253. Epub 2013 Aug 30.
Campbell PG, Yadla S, Malone J, Zussman B, Maltenfort MG, Sharan AD, Harrop JS, Ratliff JK. Early complications related to approach in cervical spine surgery: single-center prospective study. World Neurosurg. 2010 Aug-Sep;74(2-3):363-8. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.05.034.
Collins JR, Veras K, Hernandez M, Hou W, Hong H, Romanos GE. Anti-inflammatory effect of salt water and chlorhexidine 0.12% mouthrinse after periodontal surgery: a randomized prospective clinical study. Clin Oral Investig. 2021 Jul;25(7):4349-4357. doi: 10.1007/s00784-020-03748-w. Epub 2021 Jan 3.
Cloney MB, Garcia RM, Smith ZA, Dahdaleh NS. The Effect of Steroids on Complications, Readmission, and Reoperation After Posterior Lumbar Fusion. World Neurosurg. 2018 Feb;110:e526-e533. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.11.030. Epub 2017 Nov 16.
Gupta S, Jain A, Singla M. Is saltwater mouth rinse as effective as chlorhexidine following periodontal surgery? Evid Based Dent. 2021 Dec;22(4):130-131. doi: 10.1038/s41432-021-0227-6. Epub 2021 Dec 16.
Huynh NC, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS. Rinsing with Saline Promotes Human Gingival Fibroblast Wound Healing In Vitro. PLoS One. 2016 Jul 21;11(7):e0159843. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159843. eCollection 2016.
Kalb S, Reis MT, Cowperthwaite MC, Fox DJ, Lefevre R, Theodore N, Papadopoulos SM, Sonntag VK. Dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: incidence and risk factors. World Neurosurg. 2012 Jan;77(1):183-7. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.07.004. Epub 2011 Nov 15.
Kim HJ, Alluri R, Stein D, Lebl D, Huang R, Lafage R, Bennett T, Lafage V, Albert T. Effect of Topical Steroid on Swallowing Following ACDF: Results of a Prospective Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2021 Apr 1;46(7):413-420. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003825.
Liu FY, Yang DL, Huang WZ, Huo LS, Ma L, Wang H, Yang SD, Ding WY. Risk factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Mar;96(10):e6267. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006267.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (National Institutes of Health). Dysphagia. NIH Publication No. 10-4307. Bethesda, MD: NIH; October 2010. Available at: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/Pages/dysph.aspx.
Oh LJ, Ong S, Ghozy S, Dmytriw AA, Zuccato J, Mobbs R, Phan K, Dibas M, Faulkner H. Dysphagia rates in single- and multiple-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery: a meta-analysis. J Spine Surg. 2020 Sep;6(3):581-590. doi: 10.21037/jss-20-506.
Tasiou A, Giannis T, Brotis AG, Siasios I, Georgiadis I, Gatos H, Tsianaka E, Vagkopoulos K, Paterakis K, Fountas KN. Anterior cervical spine surgery-associated complications in a retrospective case-control study. J Spine Surg. 2017 Sep;3(3):444-459. doi: 10.21037/jss.2017.08.03.
Yee TJ, Swong K, Park P. Complications of anterior cervical spine surgery: a systematic review of the literature. J Spine Surg. 2020 Mar;6(1):302-322. doi: 10.21037/jss.2020.01.14.
Related Links
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NIH Dysphagia
Other Identifiers
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HS-24-00348
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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