Glossopharyngeal Nerve Injury Following Tonsillectomy

Jeffrey Strelzik, Jennifer White, Brian K Reilly, Amy Kao and Marc Disabella

Department of Neurology, Children’s National Health System, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Children’s National Health System, USA Department of Neurology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, USA Department of Neurology, George Washington University School of Medicine, USA

^*Correspondance to: Jeffrey Strelzik 

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Abstract:

Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed ambulatory operations in the United States, with over 500,000 performed yearly in children less than 15 years of age. While hemorrhage, dehydration, and pain are commonly encountered complications, glossopharyngeal nerve injury is less frequently sited. Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia (GPN) is characterized by episodes of severe pain in the sensory regions innervated by the auricular and pharyngeal branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve. In this report we present a brief review of the literature regarding GPN and complications of tonsillectomy along with two case reports of GPN which developed post-tonsillectomy.

Keywords:

Tonsillectomy; Glossopharyngeal; Neuralgia; Glossopharyngeal nerve; Pain; Neurology

Cite the Article:

Strelzik J, White J, Reilly BK, Kao A, Disabella M. Glossopharyngeal Nerve Injury Following Tonsillectomy. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2019; 4: 1773..