The Journal of laryngology and otology
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Pain following tonsillectomy in children is a significant problem that tends to be underestimated. We audited post-operative pain in 33 children and found significant proportions of children in moderately severe to severe pain, particularly at, or soon after returning to the ward. ⋯ On re-auditing two years later, in a group of 100 children, post-operative pain was significantly improved. The proportion experiencing moderately severe to severe pain on returning to the ward, as their maximum pain score and pain score at discharge fell from 70 per cent to 48 per cent, 85 per cent to 56 per cent, and six per cent to two per cent respectively.
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While tonsillectomy is the commonest operation performed by otolaryngologists, paralysis of the hypoglossal nerve following tonsillectomy is not well recognized in the otolaryngology text or literature. We report a case of hypoglossal nerve paralysis following tonsillectomy and discuss the theories on the pathoaetiology as described in the predominantly anaesthetics literature. The likely causes of nerve injury are described and precautions are suggested to help avoid this problem.