Dysphagia and Cervical Spine Disorders in Patients With Brain Lesions

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The research is about a prospective study conducted in patients suffering from dysphagia and cervical spine disorders and how they are interrelated. Three questionnaires have been given to patients with neurologic deficits, the first of these investigates the occurence of dysphagia in the three stages of swallowing, the second looks into the quality of life following a stroke or other neurologic damage and the third analyses how cervical spine disorders can affect every day life. After the bedside examination, VFSS or FEES, the patients are submitted to swallowing and cervical resistance exercises in fixed time periods after their hospitalisation. The results will be collected and evaluated using the statistical programme SPSS.

Official Title
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Dysphagia and Cervical Spine Disorders in Patients With Neurologic Deficits Due to Brain Lesions

Conditions
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Prevention, Rehabilitation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Videofluroscopic swallow study (VFSS)
* Procedure: cervical spine isometric exercises
* Procedure: Fiberoptic endoscopic esophageal study (FEES)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: brain lesions and cervical spine disorders Exclusion Criteria: age peripheral damages

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 25 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Videofluroscopic swallow study (VFSS)<br>To investigate the swallowing ability of patients with neurologic problems | Procedure: Videofluroscopic swallow study (VFSS)<br>* Barium, radiation<br>|
| Active Comparator: cervical spine isometric excercises<br>isometric exercises in patients with cervical spine scoliosis | Procedure: cervical spine isometric exercises<br>* patients with cervical scoliosis will execute isometric exercises of the cervical spine<br>|
| Active Comparator: Fiberoptic endoscopic esophageal study (FEES)<br>To investigate the anatomic structures during swallowing of patients with neurologic problems | Procedure: Fiberoptic endoscopic esophageal study (FEES)<br>* food for swallowing<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| change in swallowing ability and quality of life by swal-quol questionnaire |  | at the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (baseline), at six weeks, at one year | 
| change of swallowing ability by Okuma's questionnaire |  | at the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (baseline), at six weeks, at one year | 
| change of cervical scoliosis measured by Cobb method in x-rays |  | at the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (baseline), at six weeks, at one year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| change of cervical oswestry disability index | this questionnaire will be distributed only to patients with previous cervical spine problems | at the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (baseline), at six weeks, at one year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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spine injuries, brain lesions, dysphagia