Tapia Syndrome After Cervical Laminoplasty: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Bilateral Tapia syndrome in teenager with post traumatic Hangman's fracture and carotid artery dissection

“…Furthermore, our patient did not undergo anterior cervical spine surgery, having opted for conservative treatments, while other authors describe TS cases associated with spinal surgery [ [22] , [23] , [24] ].…”

“…Prolonged intubation, repeated cycles of pronation, improper neck position during general anesthesia, are risk factors for peripheral TS, as shown in reports in intensive care units, cervical spine surgery, and shoulder arthroscopy [ 20 , [22] , [23] , [24] ]. Predisposing anatomical factors, such as an enlarged hyoid bone, cannot be excluded, as hypothesized by some authors [ 17 , 20 ].…”

Hypoglossal and Glossopharyngeal Nerve Palsy After Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion

“…The syndrome was originally described after posterior cervical spine surgery but has been reported after anterior approaches, as well. Injury is hypothesized to occur from excessive neck extension or pressure from the ramus of an open mandible 14 . Vagus palsy is characterized by vocal cord paresis through the superior and inferior laryngeal nerves 15 .…”

“…Tapia syndrome, a unilateral vagus and hypoglossal palsy, has been described previously 14 . The syndrome was originally described after posterior cervical spine surgery but has been reported after anterior approaches, as well.…”