Minimum clinically important difference for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery using EAT-10: the peak matters

The MCID thresholds from this study provide crucial benchmarks for assessing dysphagia changes after anterior cervical surgery, allowing tailored interventions. Patients with baseline dysphagia are less likely to experience early dissatisfaction, and high peak scores negatively impact long-term satisfaction. These findings emphasize the importance of proactive dysphagia management to enhance patient outcomes.