Compression Neuropathy of the Hypoglossal Nerve Following Orotracheal Intubation: A case report.

, Sohn, Hyun Joo; , Ko, Hyun Yoon; , Shin, Yong Beom; , Chang, Jae Hyeok

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2009;33(2):246-248.

Sohn, Hyun Joo , Ko, Hyun Yoon , Shin, Yong Beom , Chang, Jae Hyeok

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Korea. drkohy@gmail.com

기관삽관 이후 발생한 설하신경의 압박 신경손상-증례 보고-

손현주,고현윤,신용범,장재혁

부산대학교 의학전문대학원 재활의학교실

Abstract

Hypoglossal nerve injury is an uncommon complication following endotracheal intubation. A transoral procedure in-cluding endotracheal intubation may result in hypoglossal nerve compression at the lateral margin on the hyoid bone and inner mandibular margin at the tongue base. A 50-year- old patient undergoing rotator cuff repair developed a tran-sient unilateral postoperative hypoglossal nerve injury follo-w-ing uncomplicated endotracheal intubation for general ane-s-thesia. The following day the patient complained of diffi-culty with tongue movement and buccal manipulation of food, and had slurred speech. An electrophysiologic assess-ment confirmed a diagnosis of unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy. The symptoms resolved spontaneously and completely by 6 weeks. The possible etiology of the injury is discussed, and related literatures are reviewed. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2009; 33: 246-248)

Key Words: Hypoglossal nerve, Orotracheal intubation, Compression neuropathy