Hypoglossal nerve palsy

Video Description

"This 50-year-old hypertensive woman presented with sudden onset of right-sided weakness of grade zero. Examination revealed left hypoglossal nerve palsy and right extensor planter. Note that the left (paralyzed) side of the tongue is pushed away by the intact right half. This is medial medullary syndrome (Dejerine anterior bulbar syndrome). She had an ischemic stroke."

Hypoglossal nerve palsies are also a rare but reported complication of anterior cervical surgery. The tongue will deviate to the side of the injury.

Below is a case report of a patient who developed a hypoglossal nerve palsy following a corpectomy and fusion from C2 to C5.Sengupta DK, Grevitt MP, Mehdian SM. Hypoglossal nerve injury as a complication of anterior surgery to the upper cervical spine. Eur Spine J. 1999;8(1):78-80. Review. PubMed PMID: 10190859. Level of Evidence: 5 - Other.
PMID: 10190859 (Link to Abstract)