NCT07533864

ACSS Approach on Dysphagia

Anterior Cervical Spine Strap Muscle Splitting Versus Smith-Robinson Approach: A Single-Centre Observational Study

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) is a procedure for the treatment of several neck problems. Even though the procedure is overall safe and effective, there are possible complications after surgery, which include problems swallowing, hoarseness of the voice, and pain when swallowing. There are two different ways the spinal surgeon can approach the spine from the front of the neck. One is called a Smith-Robinson approach, and the other is called a strap-splitting approach. Each approach uses the same skin cut, the difference is only in how the next layer is approached, whether on the outside (Smith-Robinson) or through (strap-splitting) one of the small muscles in your neck. Because of the slightly different approaches to the surgery, we want to see if there are differences in complications related to swallowing and speaking between these two approaches. Participants will undergo one of the two surgical approaches, based on surgeon preference. Participants will complete a questionnaire at several time points during their clinical follow-up to assess any difficulties swallowing and speaking.

Conditions

• Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-04-01
• Primary completion: 2028-07-01
• Completion: 2029-07-01
• First posted: 2026-04-16
• Last updated: 2026-04-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada