Li XH, Sun YY, Chen TT, Yang F, Lai ZB, He J. Surgical management of dysphagia at the oropharyngeal-esophageal junction due to cervical spondylosis: Two case reports. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(6): 118552 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.118552]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jie He, Director, Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College, No. 566 Shengguang Road, Jimei District, Xiamen 361021, Fujian Province, China. hejie5288@qq.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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case-report
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Li XH, Sun YY, Chen TT, Yang F, Lai ZB, He J. Surgical management of dysphagia at the oropharyngeal-esophageal junction due to cervical spondylosis: Two case reports. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(6): 118552 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.118552]
World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2026; 18(6): 118552 Published online Jun 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.118552
Surgical management of dysphagia at the oropharyngeal-esophageal junction due to cervical spondylosis: Two case reports
Xiao-Hua Li, Yan-Yu Sun, Ting-Ting Chen, Fang Yang, Zhen-Bin Lai, Jie He
Xiao-Hua Li, Yan-Yu Sun, Ting-Ting Chen, Fang Yang, Zhen-Bin Lai, Jie He, Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361021, Fujian Province, China
Author contributions: Li XH, Sun YY, and Chen TT collected case, analyzed and drafted the manuscript; Yang F and Lai ZB analyzed the case; He J analyzed and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Jie He, Director, Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College, No. 566 Shengguang Road, Jimei District, Xiamen 361021, Fujian Province, China. hejie5288@qq.com
Received: January 6, 2026 Revised: February 11, 2026 Accepted: March 23, 2026 Published online: June 27, 2026 Processing time: 160 Days and 14.7 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Dysphagia is a common symptom that can lead to serious complications such as nutritional deficits, aspiration pneumonia, and even death, particularly in older adults. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is more prevalent than esophageal dysphagia, and the optimal treatment relies on the established cause. In this study, we present two rare cases of dysphagia caused by cervical spondylosis that were localized to the oropharyngeal-esophageal junction (OEJ).
CASE SUMMARY
Patient 1 was a 79-year-old man admitted with a 1-week history of worsening dysphagia alongside coughing and choking. Patient 2 was a 65-year-old man who presented with a 2-year history of progressive dysphagia that was also accompanied by coughing and choking during meals. After eliminating common causes of dysphagia through comprehensive examinations, including laboratory tests, gastroscopy, and cervical magnetic resonance imaging, dysphagia at the OEJ was confirmed to be caused by cervical spondylosis in both patients. Orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation were performed, resulting in the successful resolution of dysphagia and favorable outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Cervical spondylosis is an uncommon cause of dysphagia at the OEJ, and orthopedic surgery might lead to improvement in symptoms, as demonstrated in these patients. Our experience with these rare cases highlights the importance of considering cervical spondylosis when dysphagia at the OEJ cannot be attributed to common causes. Orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation can provide good outcomes for this unique condition.
Core Tip: This study reports cervical spondylosis at the oropharyngeal-esophageal junction as a rare but treatable cause of oropharyngeal dysphagia in two elderly patients. By presenting these uncommon cases, the study demonstrates that this etiology should be considered when common causes are ruled out. Dysphagia was resolved through orthopedic surgery and subsequent rehabilitation in both patients. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of recognizing cervical spondylosis as a potential cause of dysphagia and facilitating appropriate intervention to prevent serious complications and improve clinical outcomes, thereby contributing to better management of dysphagia.
