Shot in the neck in Spain (a rare cause of an isolated Horner's syndrome)

Delayed Horner's Syndrome After Multiple Penetrating Stab Injury of the Neck

Horner's syndrome is characterized by a triad of symptoms (ipsilateral miosis, ptosis, and anhidrosis) with damage of the sympathetic nervous system. The condition may be congenital or acquired from traumatic conditions including cardiovascular surgery. Horner's syndrome can be also caused by neck trauma especially when cervical vital structures such as blood vessels, the aerodigestive tract, and nerves are disrupted. This report describes a 16-year-old woman with delayed Horner's syndrome who initially presented with internal jugular vein injury caused by multiple penetrating stab injury to the neck. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Horner's syndrome resulting from neck trauma of which symptoms were presented after a couple of weeks after initial trauma. Understanding this rare clinical course may help surgeons pay attention to not only early hospital course but also long-term complications of patients with neck trauma.

[Horner's syndrome after fracture of the first rib]

Horner's syndrome after trauma is rare. After visual diagnosis, a search for the cause is urgent due to possible life threatening damage. Intracerebral bleeding and carotid dissection must be excluded. Traumatic Horner's syndrome often seems to be, as in the case described here, caused by a fracture of the first rib. As persistent symptoms are not described, conservative therapy is recommended.