Table 3

Postoperative outcome measures (N = 91).

Outcome Measures	Mean ± SD (n)	P Value^{^a}
Swallowing quality of life
Preoperative	90.4 ± 6.8 (91)	-
6 wk	88.3 ± 10.2 (74)	0.007
12 wk	91.0 ± 8.1 (57)	0.557
6 mo	93.7 ± 6.1 (42)	0.002
VAS neck
Preoperative	5.7 ± 2.5 (89)	-
6 wk	3.2 ± 2.4 (82)	<0.001
12 wk	2.6 ± 2.3 (78)	<0.001
6 mo	2.4 ± 2.2 (63)	<0.001
VAS arm
Preoperative	5.8 ± 2.4 (89)	-
6 wk	2.6 ± 2.4 (81)	<0.001
12 wk	3.1 ± 3.1 (73)	<0.001
6 mo	2.5 ± 2.6 (61)	<0.001
Neck Disability Index
Preoperative	36.4 ± 19.2 (88)	-
6 wk	29.4 ± 18.4 (80)	0.009
12 wk	24.9 ± 18.9 (73)	<0.001
6 mo	18.2 ± 17.5 (60)	<0.001
12-Item Short Form Physical Component Score
Preoperative	35.9 ± 8.6 (84)	-
6 wk	35.0 ± 9.1 (71)	0.984
12 wk	38.7 ± 10.1 (56)	0.021
6 mo	41.3 ± 10.7 (55)	<0.001
PROMIS-PF
Preoperative	40.3 ± 6.7 (77)	-
6 wk	41.6 ± 6.7 (62)	0.299
12 wk	44.7 ± 9.7 (50)	<0.001
6 mo	48.0 ± 8.9 (44)	<0.001
9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire
Preoperative	7.3 ± 6.4 (56)	-
6 wk	5.3 ± 5.7 (51)	0.007
12 wk	4.8 ± 6.7 (40)	0.004
6 mo	5.4 ± 5.8 (34)	0.153

Abbreviation: PROMIS-PF, Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function; VAS, visual analog score.
Note: Boldface indicates statistical significance
↵a P values calculated using paired t test