Zoster related multiple cranial nerve palsies: an unusual complication following percutaneous balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia

A C Kam; N G Dan; J Maclean; D Higgins

doi:10.1016/s0967-5868(99)90519-2

Zoster related multiple cranial nerve palsies: an unusual complication following percutaneous balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia

J Clin Neurosci. 1999 May;6(3):261-4. doi: 10.1016/s0967-5868(99)90519-2.

Authors

A C Kam¹, N G Dan, J Maclean, D Higgins

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Sydney, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales 2139, Australia.

PMID: 18639167
DOI: 10.1016/s0967-5868(99)90519-2

Abstract

A patient demonstrating multiple cranial nerve palsies involving the IXth, Xth, XIth and XIIth cranial nerves following percutaneous balloon compression of the trigeminal ganglion for post-herpetic trigeminal neuralgia is presented. This collection of lower cranial nerve palsies, including the accessory nerve, has not been previously described as a complication of this procedure. This unusual group of cranial nerve palsies resulted from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) secondary to the procedure.