A patient with an odontoid fracture and atrophy of the tongue: a case report and systematic review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Traumatic hypoglossal nerve palsy is a rare entity and has rarely been described in association with an odontoid fracture.


METHODS
We present a patient with a posttraumatic odontoid fracture who developed selective weakness of his arms and a unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy. A systematic review of the literature is presented, and hypothetical causes for the injury are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Bell's cruciate paralysis and central cord syndrome are probably expressions of the same mechanism rather than 2 separate entities based on a preferential damage of pyramidal crossing arm fibers. C2 fractures with concomitant lower cranial nerve injury are relatively rare and have a reasonably good outcome, especially when unilateral.
Kuitwaard
Krista
K
Department of Neurosurgery, VU University Medical Center, Postbox 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Vandertop
William P
WP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001284:Atrophy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D020437:Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000293:injuries; D013577:Syndrome; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology