Unusual case of post-traumatic lingual paraesthesia

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Anatomy

Background:

• Skull base fractures can cause cranial nerve deficits.
• The foramen ovale transmits the mandibular nerve, crucial for facial and lingual sensation.

Observation:

• A patient presented with isolated lingual paraesthesia.
• Imaging revealed a fracture at the base of the skull, specifically involving the foramen ovale.

Findings:

• The lingual paraesthesia was directly attributed to the foramen ovale fracture.
• This represents a novel association between skull base fracture and isolated lingual sensory neuropathy.

Implications:

• This case expands the spectrum of neurological complications from skull base fractures.
• Clinicians should consider foramen ovale involvement in patients with unexplained lingual sensory disturbances following trauma.