Cervical nerve injury after carotid endarterectomy

Objective: to determine the extent and direct significance of cervical nerv e injury after carotid endarterectomy. Material and methods: fifty-two patients (61 operations) were followed by m eans of patent history and neurological examination between 3 and 55 months following carotid endarterectomy. Results: sixteen operated sites showed normal sensitivity. Patients assesse d 3-6 months after surgery showed on average a neurological loss of 3.4 poi nts (scale from 0-4). Patients assessed after 7-12 months had on average a deficit of 2.1 points. After 13-24 months the score was at 1.4 and after th e second postoperative year the score yielded only 0.4 points. Conclusion: loss of cervical nerve sensation is always present after caroti d endarterectomy but tends to improve with time. However, the timing and ex tend of this improvement is unpredictable. Patients are usually not disturb ed by these changes.