Tapia syndrome after cervical spine surgery.

Tapia syndrome is a rare entity characterized by unilateral paralysis of the tongue and vocal cord caused by X(th) and XII(th) cranial nerve lesions. However, there has been no report of Tapia syndrome immediately following spine surgery. A 47-year-old man underwent posterior decompressive laminectomy for cervical stenosis. The surgery took about 117 minutes and it was uneventful. Postoperatively he developed hoarseness of voice during speech, with deviation of tongue protrusion. On laryngoscopic examination, paralysis of the left side of the tongue and the soft palate was found and complete palsy of the left vocal cord was noted. After excluding surgical cause and craniocervical lesion, a clinical diagnosis of Tapia syndrome was made. Here we report a rare case of Tapia syndrome developed after posterior approach for cervical spine surgery and discuss the possible mechanisms of this uncommon syndrome.

INTRODUCTION

Tapia syndrome is characterized by unilateral paralysis of the tongue and vocal cord caused by lesions of the Xth and XIIth cranial nerves. The most common clinical symptoms are hoarseness, dysphagia and difficulty in tongue movement1). The main causes of Tapia syndrome are parotid tumors and other lesions or injuries to the upper neck9). Here we report a patient who immediately developed unilateral paralysis of the tongue and vocal cord following decompressive laminectomy at C3 to C6.

CASE REPORT

A 47 year old male was admitted to the spine center due to arm tingling sensation and pain, bilaterally. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed significant stenosis at the C3 to C6 levels. The laboratory findings including coagulation testing prior to the surgery were within normal limits. Intramuscular injection of midazolam 2.5mg was provided for premedication. Induction of anesthesia was achieved with an initial target controlled plasma level of 3.5 ug/mL of propofol, and infusion of 0.1 ug/kg/min of remifentanil. Neuromuscular blockade was achieved with rocuronium 0.6mg/kg. After 2 minutes, transoral intubation by direct laryngoscopy was performed gently. A size 8 endotracheal tube was inserted and then secured to prevent dislodgement or loosening, at a left angle to the mouth. In addition, cuff inflation was performed using 4mL of room air. After endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation was adjusted to maintain normocarbia, using 1 L/min of O2 and 2 L/min of medical air. The patient was turned prone on the operating table, keeping the neck in line with the spine. The head was kept in a hyperflexion position using Mayfield head pins for better surgical view. To keep the neck in flexion, the chin was tried to be sutured to the anterior chest. Anesthesia was maintained with a propofol plasma target between 3.0 and 3.5 ug/mL and the remifentanil infusion between 0.05 and 0.1 ug/kg/min. The surgery lasted 117min. Decompressive laminectomy at the C3 to C6 levels by the posterior approach was performed. The surgery was uneventful. At completion of surgery, the propofol and remifentanil infusions were discontinued, a reversal agent was administered intravenously, and spontaneous respirations returned after 9 minutes, at which time the endotracheal tube was removed. The patient was transferred to the recovery room and was alert and oriented within five minutes of leaving the operating room. After extubation, the patient complained of throat and neck pain with hoarseness. Forty eight hours later, these symptoms persisted, and were associated with dysphagia. On laryngoscopic examination, paralysis of the left side of the tongue and the soft palate was found and complete palsy of the left vocal cord was noted (Fig. 1, 2). The remainder of the neurological examination was normal. Horner's syndrome was not present. The next day, vertebral and carotid ultrasonography, cerebral computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain and neck were carried out. The results were normal with no ischemia, abscess formation, tumor, or hemorrhage found. Corticosteroid therapy was provided for two weeks and speech therapy, by the rehabilitation department, was started. Two weeks later, the patient started to recover to some degree; however, the symptoms were still present at eight months after operation.

Fig. 1

This picture shows the tongue deviation to the left side during tongue protrusion.

Fig. 2

Laryngoscopic finding shows complete palsy of left vocal cord.

DISCUSSION

Extracranial involvement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the hypoglossal nerve is known as Tapia syndrome1-3). Our patient developed this combination of abnormalities immediately after decompressive laminectomy performed by the posterior approach. The combination injury of the hypoglossal and vagal nerves due to extracranial involvement is very rare. The vagal nerve leaves the cranium through the jugular foramen and passes through the neck to the thorax. The 9th, 10th and 11th cranial nerves are anterior to the internal jugular vein (IJV) as they traverse the jugular foramen. They are immediately posterior to the internal carotid artery (ICA) as they emerge from it. The superior and inferior sensory ganglion of the 9th and 10th nerve are seen as thickening immediately inferior to their exit from the cranium(Fig. 3A). The hypoglossal nerve is medial to the 9th, 10th and 11th cranial nerves after they exit the cranium through the hypoglossal canal. The hypoglossal nerve descends to the anterior cervical region; along this path it is near to the surface of the inferior vagal ganglion (Fig. 3B). Then the hypoglossal nerve crosses the vagal nerve in order to continue its route medially and ultimately reaches the tongue and supply all the extrinsic muscle of the tongue5). This close relationship between the vagal and hypoglossal nerve explains why both nerves can be injured simultaneously2,3,6,9). The main causes of Tapia syndrome are tumors or injury to the upper neck as well as congenital and idiopathic lesions including iatrogenic causes such as endotracheal intubation7-9). There are recent reports in the literature on Tapia syndrome after oro-tracheal intubation resulted from compression by the cuff pressure of the endotracheal tube and prolonged stretching of cranial nerves by improper positioning of the head9). Namely, poor and inadequate body position during surgery may cause the Tapia syndrome. Boisseau et al. reported the Tapia syndrome following shoulder surgery caused by fully upright sitting position2). He presumed cranial nerve injuries could occur due to compression by the tracheal tube resulted from excessive displacement of the head. Moreover, the endotracheal tube might have caused symptoms in this patient such as disturbance of laryngeal function and swallowing. In our patient, transoral intubation was performed without any problem, the pressure was checked regularly, and nitrous oxide was not given. In fact, we do not know exact etiology of these cranial nerves paralysis. However, we speculate the involved possible mechanisms include compression of nerves against the mandible by excessive anterior flexion of neck or stretching of the cranial nerves by the tracheal tube itself or the cuff pressure in spite of regular pressure check3). So, we believe that although neck flexion is necessary for posterior prone position, we would recommend avoidance of excessive prolonged hyperflexion of the neck and adequate cuff pressure during surgery. Although steroids are most commonly used to treat these cranial nerve palsies, there is no definitive therapy. In some cases, administration of steroids and vitamins may be used to shorten the recovery period4,7). We followed our patient for eight months but the symptoms were not improved despite conventional steroid therapy.

Fig. 3

Schematic pictures of the jugular foramen region show the relationship of structures. A: Cranial nerve IX, X, and XI are anterior to the IJV as they traverse the jugular foramen. B: The hypoglossal nerve descends and crosses the vagal nerve in order to continue to its route medially.

DP: Digastric posterior belly, IX: Golssopharyngeal nerve

X: Vagus nerve, XI: Spinal accessory nerve

ICA: Internal carotid artery,

IGG: Inferior ganglion of glossopharyngeal nerve,

IJV: Internal jugular vein, JF: Jugular Foramen,

SGV: Superior gangion of vagus nerve,

SGG: Superior gangion of glossopharyngeal nerve,

IGV: Inferior ganglion of vagus nerve,

SP: Styloid process, SP: Stylopharyngeus,

SCM: Sternocleidomastoid, SCSG: Superior cervical sympathetic ganglion, CCA: Common carotid artery

CONCLUSION

We report a rare case of immediately developed Tapia's syndrome following cervical spine surgery by posterior approach. Although it is rare and unpredictable, the possibility of unintended cranial nerve injuries should be kept in mind after cervical spine surgery.