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.
| Facility | City | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Health Sciences - Hamilton General Hospital | Hamilton | Ontario | Recruiting |
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
View NCT07533864 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ← All trials in Canada