Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnoea in a patient with previous tongue laceration

Upper airway stimulation of the tongue using an implantable neurostimulator has recently been approved for select patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and intolerance to continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Effective implantation depends on the integrity of the hypoglossal nerve as well as the tongue musculature, notably the genioglossus. Prior trauma to either of these structures may be viewed as a relative contraindication to implantation. We describe a case of successful right hypoglossal nerve implantation in a patient with a history of left cardiac pacemaker placement and severe left penetrating tongue trauma with decreased mobility from contracture and deviation mimicking a hypoglossal nerve palsy. Preoperative and postoperative apnoea–hypopnoea index values were 52/hour and 5/hour, respectively. Prior soft tissue trauma to the tongue may not necessarily preclude surgical candidacy for upper airway stimulation in patients with OSA.

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