Cervical anterior hyperostosis: a rare cause of dysphagia. Report of 3 cases

Abstract

Disorders of the cervical spine rarely cause dysphagia and/or dysphonia. Exuberant osteophytosis, secondary to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, also referred to as Forestier's disease, seems to be the predominant cause. Forestier's disease is a non inflammatory enthesopathy, of unknown etiology, ossifying the anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine, sparing the discs, and usually affecting older men. We describe the successful surgical treatment of 3 cases, over the course of 26 years, observed in our Neurosurgical Unit.