Summary
This report describes a case of delayed post-traumatic glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves palsy (i.e. dysphonia and swallowing dysfunction). A high resolution CT study of the cranial base detected a fracture rim encroaching on the left jugular foramen. Treatment consisted in supportive measures with incomplete recovery during a one-year follow-up period. Lower cranial nerves palsies after head trauma are rare and, should they occur, a thorough investigation in search of posterior cranial base and cranio-cervical lesions is warranted. The presumptive mechanism in our case is a fracture-related oedema and ischemic damage to the nerves leading to the delayed occurrence of the palsy.
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Alberio, N., Cultrera, F., Antonelli, V. et al. Isolated glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves palsy due to fracture involving the left jugular foramen. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 147, 791–794 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-005-0547-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-005-0547-x