Cranial nerve V2 and Vidian nerve trauma secondary to lateral pterygoid recess encephalocele repair

Abstract

BackgroundThe incidence of adverse sequelae related to trauma of cranial nerve V2 (V2) and the Vidian nerve (VN) during endoscopic pterygoid recess repair (PRR) of lateral sphenoid encephalocele is insufficiently reported in the medical literature. As part of our quality assessment and improvement program we sought to analyze the incidence and severity of V2 and VN injury during a 9‐year experience (2010‐2018) with PRR.MethodsHypoesthesia, paresthesia, and dry eye and their impact on patient quality of life were sought through chart review and a self‐reported 0 to 5 Likert scale for each symptom.ResultsThirty‐five patients underwent repair of spontaneous cerebrospinal‐fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, with 11 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic PRR. Mean follow‐up for PRR was 32.5 months (range, 2.4 to 103.3 months). Although definitive management resulted in 100% success, 1 required secondary treatment. Eight patients were available for long‐term follow‐up (72.7%) and completed a symptom severity questionnaire using a Likert‐scale. All patients observed either hypoesthesia, paresthesia, or dry eye of varying gradation (scale, 0 to 5). None described disabling symptoms, and some reported gradual improvement. Numbness, paresthesia, and dry eye were reported by 6 of 8 (75%), 5 of 8 (62.5%), and 4 of 8 (50%) patients, respectively. The mean Likert score among the 8 patients who completed this questionnaire noticing hypoesthesia, paresthesia, and dry eye was 2.6, 1.3, and 1.8, respectively.ConclusionMeticulous surgical technique is paramount for successful PRR and minimizing nerve injury, yet the anatomic variation of the lateral pterygoid recess can be challenging, and neural injury is a real risk. Preoperatively, patients should be counseled that although V2 or VN injury is common, most patients describe resulting symptoms to be rarely bothersome.

Trigeminal Numbness After Intracranial Repair of a Spontaneous Meningoencephalocele of the Lateral Wall of the Sphenoid Sinus

“…Repair is made using a multilayered repair with allograft and abdominal fat covered with a nasoseptal flap. The success rate for endoscopic repair of lateral recess leaks varies between 60% and 100% [6,[12][13][14]. Recurrence of these defects has been estimated to occur in 20% of the cases [15].…”

“…Most patients reported that these symptoms were not bothersome or life-altering [14]. Only eight literature reports have described hypoesthesia or paresthesia of the mandibular nerve after endoscopic resection of a lateral sphenoid meningoencephalocele [5,[12][13][14][16][17][18][19]. Numbness was more common than paresthesias in those cases [14].…”

“…Only eight literature reports have described hypoesthesia or paresthesia of the mandibular nerve after endoscopic resection of a lateral sphenoid meningoencephalocele [5,[12][13][14][16][17][18][19]. Numbness was more common than paresthesias in those cases [14]. No previous case of paresthesia or numbness has been described after intracranial surgery.…”

Commentary on: “Cranial nerve V2 and Vidian nerve trauma secondary to lateral pterygoid recess encephalocele repair”

“…The recent article in the International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology ( IFAR ) by Chislett et al 1 . highlights the important issue of operative complications following surgery of the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus.…”

“…Chislett et al 1 . highlight that the extent of dissection within the pterygopalatine fossa can vary and be dependent on a number of factors.…”