Cervical disorders can cause swallowing issues.  Because of the close approximation of the cervical spine to the pharynx and the cervical part of the esophagus, changes in cervical discs, facets, physiological curves, elasticity of cervical muscles can adversely affect the dimensions of the pharynx and esophagus.    This can lead to dysphagia.

Riepl, R., Hoffmann, T. K., Goldberg-Bockhorn, E., Richter, P., & Reiter, R. (2019). Dysphagia in cervical spine diseases. HNO, 67(10), 801–814. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00106-019-00738-7

She saw the urologist and had testing done.  The urologist felt it was a central neurological problem. 

The surgeon spent 45 minutes reviewing all diagnostic tests in “great” detail (after the visit with the urologist) with the radiologist and concluded that the patient required surgery.  One week later, she underwent an anterior cervical fusion at C7/T1.  The surgeon noted during the surgery that she did not have evidence of a posterior longitudinal ligament at that level and doubted that her facet ligaments at C7/T1 were still intact.

Question: Noting this outcome, what do you think was the mechanism of injury to the C7/T1 segment?