We describe an unusual and rare case of isolated left hypoglossal nerve palsy secondary to compression from a prominent degenerative osteophyte from the left atlanto-occipital joint. The hypoglossal nerve is a purely motor cranial nerve innervating the tongue musculature. Palsy of the hypoglossal nerve is frequently associated with other cranial nerve palsies and can be related to vascular, neoplastic, infectious or traumatic conditions. Isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy is quite rare and very few cases have been reported in the literature to date.
OmuraSNakajimaYKobayashiS. Oral manifestations and differential diagnosis of isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy: Report of two cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod.1997; 84 (6): 635–640. doi: 10.1016/S1079-2104(97)90365-6.
7.
DemischSLindnerABeckR. The forgotten condyle: Delayed hypoglossal nerve palsy caused by fracture of the occipital condyle. Clin Neurol Neurosurg.1998: 100 (1): 44–45. doi: 10.1016/S0303-8467(97)00111-K.
8.
MourandIAzakriSBonifaceG. Teaching NeuroImages: Intermittent symptomatic occlusion of the vertebral artery caused by a cervical osteophyte. Neurology.2013; 80 (5): e54. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31827f0eeb.
9.
LeeTHLeeJS. High-resolution manometry for oropharyngeal dysphagia in a patient with large cervical osteophytes. J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2012; 18 (3): 338–339. doi: 10.5056/jnm.2012.18.3.338.
10.
PatronVRoudautPYLeratJ. Isolated hypoglossal palsy due to cervical osteophyte. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis.2012; 129 (1): 44–46. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2011.01.006.
