2026 Clinician Corner - Diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteophytes causing dysphagia

Abstract 

Anterior cervical osteophytes (ACO) are common in adults over the age of 65, and symptoms can range from dysphonia, throat pain, and, the focus of this case presentation, dysphagia. Conservative treatment is often advised, but when no relief is exhibited or symptoms contribute to a worsening patient condition, surgical osteophyte resection is often the treatment of choice. We present the case of a 74-year-old man with severe exacerbation of dysphagia that led to an anterior C3-C5 osteophytectomy, with significant improvement.  t. 

Keywords:  ACO, dysphonia, throat pain, dysphagia 

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Faculty credentials/disclosure 

James Rizkalla, MD, is a consultant to Ethicon. The planners and other faculty for this activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The authors report no funding. The patient consented to publication of this case report. 

Process

Click the "add to cart/begin" button, pay any relevant fee, take the quiz, complete the evaluation, and claim your CME credit.  You must achieve 100% on the quiz with unlimited attempts available.

  • By completing this process, you are attesting that you have read the journal article.

Expiration date:

Credit eligibility for this article is set to expire on July 1, 2027.

Learning Objectives

After completing the article, the learner should be able to:

  • Identify the clinical presentation and diagnostic evaluation of dysphagia secondary to anterior cervical osteophytes, including the appropriate use of imaging modalities to confirm the structural etiology. 

  • Recognize and respond to potential complications specific to anterior cervical surgical approaches, ensuring prompt postoperative assessment and referral when red-flag symptoms arise. 

  • Differentiate between conservative and surgical management options for cervical osteophyte–induced dysphagia and apply evidence-based criteria for when to consider osteophytectomy. 

Key Points 

  • Anterior cervical osteophytes (ACOs) are common in individuals over 65, but dysphagia due to ACO occurs only 1.7% of the time. 

  • Surgical osteophytectomy is a highly effective treatment for dysphagia caused by ACO, especially when conservative management fails. 

  • Postoperative outcomes were excellent, with significant improvement in swallowing function and no complaints 3 months later. 

  • Conservative treatment was not indicated in our patient due to the severity of symptoms and associated complications, leading to surgical osteophytectomy. 

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Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) MOC Part 2
    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
  • 1.00 American Board of Surgery (ABS) Accredited CME

    Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education of Baylor Scott & White Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 1.00 Attendance
Course opens: 
07/01/2026
Course expires: 
07/01/2027
Cost:
$25.00

Andrew Lewis, MS1, Leonide Toussaint IV, BS1, James Rizkalla, MD2, and Haariss Ilyas, MD3  

 

1 Texas A&M College of Medicine, Dallas, Texas, USA 

2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA 

3 Texas Spine Consultants, Cedar Hill, Texas, USA 

Corresponding author: James Rizkalla, MD, 3900 Junius Street, Suite 740, Dallas, TX 75246 (e-mail: [email protected]) 

James Rizkalla, MD, is a consultant to Ethicon. The planners and other faculty for this activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The authors report no funding. The patient consented to publication of this case report. 

Accreditation

The A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education of Baylor Scott & White Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

The A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education of Baylor Scott & White Health designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABS CC

Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

ABIM MOC

 Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) MOC Part 2
    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
  • 1.00 American Board of Surgery (ABS) Accredited CME

    Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education of Baylor Scott & White Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 1.00 Attendance

Price

Cost:
$25.00
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