Hypoglossal nerve palsy following the robotic thyroidectomy for the papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic surgical techniques with robotic system in the thyroid cancer have been reported to show good results and advantages; however the risk of these techniques has not been fully documented. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: We experienced an uncommon complicated case of a 20-year-old woman with a papillary thyroid carcinoma. After the robotic thyroidectomy, she complained of the tongue deviation, speech and swallowing difficulties of hypoglossal nerve palsy. DISCUSSION: In this case, a few etiologies could be suggested for the development of hypoglossal nerve palsy. It might be associated with direct stretching or entrapment of hypoglossal nerve during tumor resection; lateral placement of the laryngoscope on the tongue base; the hyperinflation of the laryngeal mask airway; and histological disruption of the intraneural connective tissue and blood circulation. CONCLUSION: Although the robotic surgery is a creative technique and has been known to be safe and effective, the risk of this surgery including traumatic nerve injury should be taken into account before surgery.