Effect of Single-Dose Preemptive Systemic Dexamethasone on Postoperative Dysphagia and Odynophagia Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A Double-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to reduce dysphagia and odynophagia remains controversial. This study evaluated the effect of a single dose of intravenous dexamethasone given as preemptive analgesia in the ACDF procedure. Methods: A total of 64 patients aged 18 years or over were randomized into two groups. The experimental group received dexamethasone 10 mg intravenously before surgery for 60 minutes, and the control group received normal saline. One surgeon operated on all patients. The Bazaz score and visual analog scale (VAS) for odynophagia were measured at 0 hour, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and 2 weeks postoperatively. Prevertebral soft-tissue swelling (PSTS) and the modified Japanese orthopedic association (mJOA) score were measured preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively. Results: The Bazaz scores at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours after operation were significantly lower in the dexamethasone group than in the placebo group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.004, respectively). The VAS scores of the dexamethasone group were significantly lower than those of the placebo group at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery (all p < 0.001), but there was no significant reduction in the Bazaz score and VAS score at 2 weeks postoperatively. There was no difference in PSTS and mJOA preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively. Conclusions: A single dose of intravenous dexamethasone used preoperatively in single-level and multilevel ACDF can significantly improve symptoms of dysphagia and odynophagia early on postoperatively.