Table 2.

Summary table of studies identifying dysphagia characteristics in cSCI using instrumental tools

Paper	Population	Tool used	Dysphagia characteristics
Bekelis et al. 2010 Case report [79]	61-year-old male Traumatic cSCI C1-C3 fusion (posterior approach)	FEES and VFSSS	Bilateral vocal cord paresis; at 1 month reduced epiglottic inversion, reduced hyolaryngeal elevation, and hypokinesis of pharyngeal wall Required PEG and returned to modified diet
Cumpston and Bock 2015 Case report [80]	84-year-old male Traumatic SCI C1-2 fusion (posterior approach), projection of screw seen at C1 into retropharynx	VFSSS	↓ pharyngeal constriction & laryngeal elevation Minimal tongue base retraction Required PEG & resolved spontaneously
Dettling et al. 2013 Case report [81]	16-year-old male Traumatic SCI—halo fixation	FEES & VFSSS	↓ soft palate movement, pooling secretions, aspiration Required NGT & resolved spontaneously
Dick et al. 2020 Experimental case series [82]	4 patients Two traumatic and two non-traumatic cervical spine injuries	VFSSS (quantitative measures)	↓ anterior hyoid excursion, ↓ pharyngeal constriction, ↓ UES opening, ↑ pharyngeal wall thickness Three returned to oral diet, one remained NBM
Hamilton et al. 2022 Prospective observational [83]	20 traumatic cSCI patients	VFSSS	↓ pharyngeal constriction, ↑ time to reach peak hyoid excursion, delayed and incomplete laryngeal vestibule closure
Miles et al. 2021 Retrospective observational [78]	62 patients (traumatic & non-traumatic (85% cervical spinal injuries)	62 FEES 11 VFSS	↓ pharyngeal constriction &↓ hyoid displacement, ↓ UES opening with residue, aspiration & secretion accumulation

VFSS videofluoroscopic swallow study, FEES flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, NGT nasogastric tube, UES upper esophageal sphincter, NBM nil by mouth