Severe Transient Pharyngeal Paralysis Following C2 Fracture Repair. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2015 Aug;124(8):598-602
Date
02/06/2015Pubmed ID
25653253DOI
10.1177/0003489415570938Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84942602703 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 6 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: We report a case of isolated pharyngeal plexus injury following posterior plating of a C2 fracture in an 84-year-old white male.
METHODS: Methods include a case report with literature review.
RESULTS: The patient presented with dense pharyngeal paralysis and inability to initiate swallowing but maintained true vocal cord movement. The patient required gastrostomy tube feeding for 3 months but eventually recovered his swallowing function. Prior literature on acute pharyngeal paralysis following upper cervical spine fracture repairs is reviewed with recommendations for care of this unique patient population.
CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic C2 fracture repair can lead to isolated dense pharyngeal paralysis due to pharyngeal plexus injury with subsequent severe dysphagia. Observation may be appropriate in this population, with consideration of tracheotomy for recurrent aspiration.
Author List
Cumpston EC, Bock JMAuthor
Jonathan Bock MD Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Aged, 80 and overCervical Vertebrae
Deglutition Disorders
Diagnosis, Differential
Dysphonia
Gastrostomy
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Paralysis
Pharynx
Postoperative Complications
Spinal Fractures
Spinal Fusion
Stroboscopy
Treatment Outcome
Vocal Cords
