# Horner syndrome immediately after deep dissection of upper thyroid pole: a case report and review of the literature

## TL;DR

This case report explores how deep dissection of the upper thyroid pole during surgery can cause Horner syndrome, a rare complication.

## Contribution

The paper highlights a potential link between the depth of upper thyroid pole dissection and the occurrence of Horner syndrome.

## Key findings

- A 24-year-old patient developed Horner syndrome immediately after deep dissection of the upper thyroid pole.
- The case suggests that excessive dissection at the upper thyroid pole may increase the risk of Horner syndrome.
- The paper provides a clinical warning to limit dissection depth to avoid this complication.

## Abstract

Horner syndrome (HS) is a rare complication of thyroid surgery. However, the relationship between the occurrence of HS and thyroid upper pole injury is still not completely clear, and there are only few reports.

A 24-year-old female underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy for thyroid papillary carcinoma. The intraoperative examination found that the upper pole of the thyroid was bleeding. During hemostasis, the ultrasonic knife consciously peeled too deep and stopped. The patient developed HS immediately after operation. We analyzed the association between deep dissection of the upper thyroid pole and an increase in the HS incidence rate through literature searches and anatomical relationships.

Our case report discussed the potential relationship between the degree of thyroid upper pole dissection and the occurrence of HS in routine thyroid surgery, and provided a warning for the degree of thyroid upper pole dissection in the clinic to avoid HS.