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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Learning Modern Laryngeal Surgery in a Dissection Laboratory
Published on: March 18, 2020
Horner syndrome after tonsillectomy: an anatomic perspective
Christina Giannikas1, Howard D Pomeranz1, Lee P Smith2
1Department of Ophthalmology, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, New York; Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, New York.
Background:
Horner syndrome after tonsillectomy has been reported rarely in the literature. Furthermore, postoperative Horner syndrome lasting more than a 1 month is an even more rare occurrence.
Patient:
We present a persistent postoperative Horner syndrome in a 5-year-old child following tonsillectomy.
Results:
Clinical diagnosis of Horner syndrome is confirmed pharmacologically, and damage to the oculosympathetic pathway at the level of the superior cervical ganglion is radiographically demonstrated.
Conclusion:
Conventional monopolar electrosurgical dissection led to irreversible damage of ganglionic neural tissue at the level of the palatine tonsilar fossa and permanent Horner syndrome.
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