Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Tapia’s syndrome as an uncommon complication after cervical spine surgery with tracheostomy: a case report and literature review

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Spine Deformity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present work is to present a rare case of Tapia’s syndrome (hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerve apraxia) following cervical spine surgery with tracheostomy.

Methods

Clinical data were collected from patient’s medical records.

Results

After uneventful cervical spine surgery with tracheostomy, the patient reported mild dysphagia and dysphonia. Clinical examination and electromyography confirmed unilateral hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal disfunction, contralateral to surgical access. Neural damage was transitory and full functional recovery was achieved within 12 months.

Conclusion

Tapia’s syndrome can be a rare complication of cervical spine surgery with tracheostomy, due to multiple factors, including tracheostomy cuffed cannula and cervical spine position during surgery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Schoenberg BS, Massey EW (1979) Tapias’s syndrome. The erratic evolution of an eponym. Arch Neurol 36:257–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lo Casto A, Spataro R, Purpura P, La Bella V (2013) Unilateral laryngeal and hypoglossal paralysis (Tapia’s syndrome) in a patient with an inflammatory pseudotumor of the neck. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 115:1499–1501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Yilmaz Z, Duygulu G, Kiliç S, Terzi R (2015) Tapia’s syndrome secondary to metastatic prostate cancer. Neurol India 63:782–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kapoor S (2013) Tapia’s syndrome: a rare complication of airway trauma. Anesth Analg 117:1261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cantalupo G, Spagnoli C, Cerasti D, Piccolo B, Crisi G, Pisani F (2014) Tapia’s syndrome secondary to laterocervical localization of diffuse large cell lymphoma. Brain Dev 36:548–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Edward K (2016) A man with no voice. J Cardiothoracic Vasc Anesth 30:1649–1651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cariati P, Cabello A, Galvez PP, Sanchez Lopez D, Garcia MB (2016) Tapia’s syndrome: pathogenetic mechanisms, diagnostic management, and proper treatment: a case series. J Med Case Rep 10:23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tesei F, Poveda LM, Strali W et al (2006) Unilateral laryngeal and hypoglossal paralysis (Tapia’s syndrome) following rhinoplasty in general anaesthesia: case report and review of the literature. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 26:219–221

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Harrison M (2011) Revision notes for the MCEM part A, 1st edn. Oxford University, Oxford, p 148

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Rubio-Nazabal E, Marey-Lopez J, Lopez-Facal S et al (2002) Isolated bilateral paralysis of the hypoglossal nerve after transoral intubation for general anesthesia. Anesthesiology 96:245–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Lim KJ, Kim MH, Kang MH, Lee HM, Park EY, Kwon KJ, Lee SK, Choi H, Moon HS (2013) Tapia’s syndrome following cervical laminoplasty—a case report. Korean J Anesthesiol 64:172–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kang JH, Kim DM, Kim SW (2013) Tapia syndrome after cervical spine surgery. Korean J Spine 10:249–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Park CK, Lee DC, Park CJ, Hwang JH (2013) Tapia’s syndrome after posterior cervical spine surgery under general anesthesia. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 54:423–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Bilbao I, Dopazo C, Carla M, Castells L, Pando E, Gantxegi A, Charco R (2016) Isolated bilateral Tapia’s syndrome after liver transplantation: a case report and review of the literature. World J Hepatol 8:1637–1644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. De Freitas MR, Nascimento OJ, Chimelli L (1991) Tapia’s syndrome caused by Paracoccidioidis brasiliensis. J Neurol Sci 103:179–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Shimohata T, Nakano R, Sato S, Tsuji S (1994) A patient with aneurysm of extracranial internal carotid artery presenting lower cranial polyneuropathy similar to Tapia’s syndrome. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 34:707–711

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Al-Sihan M, Schumacher M, Löhle E (2011) Tapia syndrome caused by a vertebral artery dissection. Ear Nose Throat J 90:313–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Brandt L (2015) Tapia’s syndrome: rare complication of securing airways. Anaesthesist 64:122–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ulusoy H, Besir A, Cekic B, Kosucu M, Geze S (2014) Transient unilateral combined paresis of the hypoglossal nerve and lingual nerve following intubation anesthesia. Braz J Anesthesiol 64:124–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Nalladaru Z, Wessels A, DuPreez L (2012) Tapia’s syndrome a rare complication following cardiac surgery. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 14:131–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rotondo F, De Paulis S, Modoni A, Schiavello R (2010) Peripheral Tapia’s syndrome after cardiac surgery. Eur J Anaesthesiol 27:575–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Sotiriou K, Balanika M, Anagnostopoulou S, Gomatos C, Karakitsos D, Saranteas T (2007) Postoperative airway obstruction due to Tapia’s syndrome after coronary bypass grafting surgery. Eur J Anaesthesiol 24:378–379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Krasnianski M, Neudecker S, Schlüter A, Krause U, Winterholler M (2003) Central Tapia’s syndrome (“matador’s disease”) caused by metastatic hemangiosarcoma. Neurology 61:868–869

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wadełek J, Kolbusz J, Orlicz P, Staniaszek A (2012) Tapia’s syndrome after arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation under general anaesthesia and LMA. Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther 44:31–34

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Jee CH, Kim HJ, Kwak KH (2018) A case report of Tapia’s syndrome after mastectomy and breast reconstruction under general anesthesia. Medicine 97:e10980

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ghorbani J, Dabir S, Givehchi G, Najafi M (2014) Copresentation of Tapia’s syndrome and pressure alopecia. A rare event after septorhinoplasty: a case report and literature review. Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan 52:38–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Lykoudis EG, Seretis K (2012) Tapia’s syndrome: an unexpected but real complication of rhinoplasty: case report and literature review. Aesthetic Plast Surg 36:557–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Boğa I, Aktas S (2010) Treatment, classification, and review of Tapia syndrome. J Craniofac Surg 21:278–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

No funding was provided for this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via G.C. Pupilli, 40136, Bologna, BO, Italy

    Chiara Mega, Alessandro Ricci, Sandra Giannone & Fabio Facchini

  2. Department of Oncologic and Degenerative Spine Surgery, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy

    Alessandro Gasbarrini

  3. Alma Mater Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche-DIMEC, Via Albertoni 11, 140138, Bologna, BO, Italy

    Chiara Mega

Authors
  1. Chiara Mega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alessandro Ricci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sandra Giannone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fabio Facchini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alessandro Gasbarrini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All suthors: study conception and design. Proofreading and approval of the final manuscript. CM: first draft of the manuscript. AR: patient enrollment and follow up. SG: revision and editing of the manuscript. FF: data collection and literature search. AG: patient follow-up. Supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sandra Giannone.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

All authors confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support or personal relationship for this work that could have influenced its outcome. On behalf of all Co-Authors, the corresponding Author shall bear full responsibility for this statement.

Ethics approval

This study was conducted retrospectively from data obtained for clinical purposes. Ethical approval was waived by the local Ethics Committee of Regione Emilia Romagna (Comitato Etico Indipendente di Area Vasta Emilia Centro—CE AVEC).

Consent to participate

Written consent to participate in this study (clinical data collection and storage in anonymous format) was obtained from the involved patient.

Consent for publication

Consent for publication was obtained from the patient involved in this case report.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mega, C., Ricci, A., Giannone, S. et al. Tapia’s syndrome as an uncommon complication after cervical spine surgery with tracheostomy: a case report and literature review. Spine Deform 8, 1135–1137 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-020-00125-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-020-00125-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation