Horner syndrome after tonsillectomy: an anatomic perspective.

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.