Stretch-induced spinal accessory nerve palsy: A case report

Abstract

Spinal accessory nerve palsy is an uncommon condition. The great majority of reported cases are iatrogenic after surgery to the posterior triangle of the neck, usually for lymph node biopsy or tumor excision. Here, the accessory nerve lies in the subcutaneous tissue and is vulnerable to injury. 2 Berry H MacDonald EA Mrazek AC Accessory nerve palsy: a review of 23 cases. Can J Neurol Sci. 1991; 18: 337-341 PubMed Google Scholar , 10 Donner TR Kline DG Extracranial spinal accessory nerve injury. Neurosurgery. 1993; 32: 907-910 Crossref PubMed Scopus (85) Google Scholar , 15 Olarte M Adams D Accessory nerve palsy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1977; 40: 1113-1116 Crossref PubMed Scopus (39) Google Scholar Trauma is the second most common cause. 2 Berry H MacDonald EA Mrazek AC Accessory nerve palsy: a review of 23 cases. Can J Neurol Sci. 1991; 18: 337-341 PubMed Google Scholar , 3 Bigliani LU Compito CA Duralde XA Wolfe IN Transfer of the levator scapulae, rhomboid major, and rhomboid minor for paralysis of the trapezius. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1996; 78A: 1534-1540 Google Scholar , 19 Williams WW Twyman RS Donell ST Birch R The posterior triangle and the painful shoulder: spinal accessory nerve injury. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1996; 78: 521-525 PubMed Google Scholar Cases of unknown etiology have occasionally been reported. 11 Eisen A Bertrand G Isolated accessory nerve palsy of spontaneous origin. Arch Neurol. 1972; 27: 496-502 Crossref PubMed Scopus (53) Google Scholar Stretch- or traction-type injury has been known to occur but appears to be rare. 8 Dellon AL Campbell JN Cornblath D Stretch palsy of the spinal accessory nerve: case report. J Neurosurg. 1990; 72: 500-502 Crossref PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar , 12 Logigian EL McInnes JM Berger AR Busis NA Lehrich JR Shahani BT Stretch-induced spinal accessory nerve palsy. Muscle Nerve. 1988; 11: 146-150 Crossref PubMed Scopus (44) Google Scholar , 17 Robertson L Sawhney B Patterson V Spinal accessory nerve palsy: a difficult but treatable diagnosis. Hosp Med. 1998; 59: 329-330 PubMed Google Scholar