Development of a novel swallowing rehabilitation based on association between cervical alignment and swallowing function during cervical fusion.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19321
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University (2023); Toho University (2020-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Miyagi Midori 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 助教 (70866574)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 嚥下障害 / 頚椎固定術 / 栄養 / とろみ調整食品 / 粘度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Restriction of cervical mobility is often a problem in older patients during swallowing rehabilitation. In this study, preoperative cervical spine angle was associated with postoperative dysphagia. In addition, to elucidate the relationship between postoperative dysphagia and preoperative factors, we analyzed patients with undergone cardiovascular surgery, and found that preoperative nutritional status contributed to the development of postoperative dysphagia. Based on these findings, we focused on the possibility that latent patient factors may contribute to dysphagia and turned our attention to environmental factors. In order to reproducibly adjust thickening, which is one of the major environmental factors for dysphagia, we developed and patented a simple thickening measuring device.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、高齢者の嚥下障害における頚部可動域制限に着目し様々な分野で成果を得た。これまで頚椎固定術後嚥下障害の発症は術中・術後因子が挙げられていたが、術前の頚椎角度により咽頭面積の狭い状態が、術後嚥下障害発症因子になることが明らかとなった。更に高齢者は外科的介入後に、潜在的な嚥下機能の脆弱性が顕在化する可能性も示唆された。この2つの事から嚥下障害と潜在的な問題点に注目し、嚥下調整食品の問題点を抽出した。嚥下調整食品の中でもとろみは作成者や施設によってバラツキがあることが問題となった。そこで、簡易的にとろみ濃度を数値化出来るトロマドラーを作製し、介護の現場での活用をめざしている。