Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine  2016;40(1):168-171

doi:10.5535/arm.2016.40.1.168

Bilateral Cranial IX and X Nerve Palsies After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Seung Don YOO 1 ; Dong Hwan KIM ; Seung Ah LEE ; Hye In JOO ; Jin Ah YEO ; Sung Joon CHUNG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Basilar skull fracture; Cranial nerve diseases

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

We report a 57-year-old man with bilateral cranial nerve IX and X palsies who presented with severe dysphagia. After a mild head injury, the patient complained of difficult swallowing. Physical examination revealed normal tongue motion and no uvular deviation. Cervical X-ray findings were negative, but a brain computed tomography revealed a skull fracture involving bilateral jugular foramen. Laryngoscopy indicated bilateral vocal cord palsy. In a videofluoroscopic swallowing study, food residue remained in the vallecula and pyriform sinus, and there was reduced motion of the pharynx and larynx. Electromyography confirmed bilateral superior and recurrent laryngeal neuropathy.