Expressnews
Chennai, May 2025: MGM Healthcare has successfully performed India’s first Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS), a minimally invasive procedure conducted through the mouth with robotic assistance, on a 52-year-old woman, providing relief from Bilateral Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, a condition characterised by severe throat pain and painful swallowing. It was also associated with a nagging neck pain also. The innovative procedure removed grossly elongated styloid processes in the neck (Eagle’s Syndrome) that were impinging on the glossopharyngeal nerve bilaterally, the root cause of her chronic pain not relieved on medications.
Despite undergoing numerous consultations and trying various medications at multiple hospitals, the patient’s condition persisted, leaving her in constant, debilitating pain. This patient from Chennai endured the pain for nearly a year without any cure. However, after the surgery, the patient experienced remarkable improvement. Within hours of the procedure, she reported a dramatic reduction in pain. Her swallowing difficulties were fully resolved. Within 48 hours, the patient was discharged with no further complications.
Bilateral Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia with Eagle’s Syndrome is rare, and in most cases, the typical approach to treatment would involve conventional surgeries, such as removal of the tonsils to access the parapharyngeal space and reach the styloid processes and the nerves. However, TORS allowed the removal of the styloid bones without the need for external incisions and spared the surrounding tissues and organs, including the palatine tonsils.
The groundbreaking surgery was performed by Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of ENT, Head & Neck Surgery at MGM Healthcare. In his comments, he said, “The patient had been suffering from excruciating throat and neck pain for nearly a year, despite multiple consultations and various treatments. After a thorough evaluation and advanced imaging techniques, we were able to accurately diagnose the patient’s condition as Bilateral Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, caused by elongated styloid bones compressing the glossopharyngeal nerve. The challenge was accessing these deep, narrow areas to remove the elongated bones without damaging surrounding structures. This is where Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) proved to be a game-changer. The robot’s articulatory arms allowed us to perform highly precise movements in the parapharyngeal space, which would have been extremely difficult with conventional methods. By performing the surgery through the mouth, we could safely remove the styloid bones, sparing vital organs like the tonsils and important blood vessels, thereby minimising the risk of complications. TORS provided an optimal solution, offering minimal invasion and ensuring a quicker, smoother recovery for the patient.”
He added that TORS has usually been used primarily for tumor removal, especially in the throat and mouth area. However, the ability to perform TORS for a rare condition like Bilateral Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, caused by Eagle’s Syndrome, marks a significant milestone for MGM Healthcare. This innovative approach, done for the first time in the country, (just a few cases have been reported in literature worldwide with similar techniques) allows the surgeon to precisely access the affected areas and provide relief to a patient who had not found a solution despite multiple attempts at treatment elsewhere. “Our hospital is deeply committed to utilising cutting-edge technologies to improve patient outcomes, and this breakthrough demonstrates our expertise in leveraging robotic-assisted surgery for complex cases. With this success, we continue to uphold our promise to push the boundaries of medical innovation, offering hope and relief to patients without viable treatment options”.
