Delayed hypoglossal nerve palsy following unnoticed occipital condyle fracture

Abstract Occipital condylar fractures (OCFs) are rare and difficult to diagnose. The routine use of computed tomography (CT) scan in traumatology has however now made their diagnosis easier, with an estimated frequency of 4 to 19% of craniospinal traumatized patients and 0.4 to 0.7% of all severe tr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuro-chirurgie 2013-12, Vol.59 (6), p.221-223
Main Authors: Rué, M, Jecko, V, Dautheribes, M, Vignes, J.-R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents
Biological and medical sciences
Condyle occipital
Cranial nerve
Craniocerebral trauma
Humans
Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases
Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases - diagnosis
Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases - etiology
Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases - pathology
Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases - therapy
Hypoglossal nerve palsy
Life Sciences
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Male
Medical sciences
Nerfs crâniens
Neurosurgery
Occipital Bone
Occipital Bone - injuries
Occipital Bone - pathology
Occipital condyle
Os occipital
Paralysie du nerf hypoglosse
Skull Fractures
Skull Fractures - complications
Skull Fractures - diagnosis
Skull Fractures - pathology
Skull Fractures - therapy
Surgery
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Traumatisme crânio-cérébral
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Summary:Abstract Occipital condylar fractures (OCFs) are rare and difficult to diagnose. The routine use of computed tomography (CT) scan in traumatology has however now made their diagnosis easier, with an estimated frequency of 4 to 19% of craniospinal traumatized patients and 0.4 to 0.7% of all severe traumatized patients in emergencies. This paper describes a patient who was not diagnosed with OCF during his first hospitalization after a road accident. However, 15 days later a left sided hypoglossal nerve palsy occurred. In this case report, we underline that an examination of the cranial nerve is a quick and easy procedure to screen each head trauma patient for occipital foramen fractures. Also, careful attention must be paid to X-Rays, CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging of the craniocervical junction.
ISSN:0028-3770
1773-0619
DOI:10.1016/j.neuchi.2013.05.003