Bilateral Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy After Occipitocervical Fusion.

Gannon, Emmett J; Cornett, Chris A · J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev · 2020

case_report · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

A 63-year-old man sustained a Jefferson fracture and was treated nonoperatively by a separate treating surgeon. Because of the symptomatic malalignment and nonunion after 6 months of nonsurgical management, the patient was seen for a second opinion. Occiput to C3 arthrodesis was performed. Postoperatively, the patient was diagnosed with a bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy. Hypoglossal nerve injuries after cervical spine fractures and posterior cervical procedures are a very rare occurrence. This is the first case report of a bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy following occipitocervical arthrodesis.

Medical subject headings

Anatomy