An unusual etiology of posttraumatic Collet-Sicard Syndrome: a case report

Posttraumatic Unilateral paralysis of the last four cranial nerves (IX-XI), known as collet-Sicard syndrome, is rare following closed head injury. A 21-year-old man presented with slurred speech, hoarseness voice and difficulty swallowing his saliva following closed head trauma. The cranial nerve examination revealed left sided severe dysfunction of cranial nerves VII, IX, X, XI, and XII. A CT-Scan of the neck was performed demonstrating a fracture of the left styloid process at the base of the skull. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed unusually well seen lower cranial nerves due to nerve edema. The patient was managed conservatively with steroids and regular sessions of neuromuscular and orthophonic rehabilitation. The nutrition had to be administered by gastrostomy since he was unable to swallow. Six months after the injury a total neurological recovery was noted. We present the exceptional case of Collet-Sicard Syndrome caused by styloid process fracture.