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  • Title: Tonsillectomy may cause altered tongue sensation in adult patients.
    Author: Smithard A, Cullen C, Thirlwall AS, Aldren C.
    Journal: J Laryngol Otol; 2009 May; 123(5):545-9. PubMed ID: 18664316.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of altered tongue sensation following tonsillectomy, and its relationship to different surgical techniques. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: District general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and four consecutive adults undergoing tonsillectomy, and 43 control patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Altered tongue sensation. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 100 patients described altered tongue sensation post-tonsillectomy. No patients in the control group experienced altered tongue sensation. There was a difference in rates of altered sensation between tonsillectomy patient groups undergoing bipolar diathermy and 'cold steel' techniques (p < 0.019). Three months after surgery, 22/23 contactable patients reported complete recovery of tongue sensation. One patient experienced tongue paraesthesia persisting until one year post-tonsillectomy. CONCLUSION: Tonsillectomy resulted in altered tongue sensation in 28 per cent of our study group. Bipolar diathermy dissection was significantly more likely to cause altered sensation than cold steel dissection. Ninety-six per cent of these disturbances resolved by three months, all by one year. Possible alteration of tongue sensation should be discussed whilst obtaining consent for tonsillectomy.
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