J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2008 Dec;44(6):396-398. 10.3340/jkns.2008.44.6.396.

Delayed Bilateral Abducens Nerve Palsy after Head Trauma

• Kim MS
• Cho MS
• Kim SH

• KMID: 1477503
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2008.44.6.396

Abstract

Although the incidence of unilateral abducens nerve palsy has been reported to be as high as 1% to 2.7% of head trauma cases, bilateral abducens nerve palsy following trauma is extremely rare. In this report, we present the case of a patient who developed a bilateral abducens nerve palsy and hypoglossal nerve palsy 3 days after suffering head trauma. He had a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 15 points. Computed tomography (CT) images demonstrated clivus epidural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage on the basal cistern. Herein, we discuss the possible mechanisms of these nerve palsies and its management.

Keyword

Abducens nerve palsy; Hypoglossal nerve palsy; Epidural hematoma; Clivus

MeSH Terms

Abducens Nerve
Abducens Nerve Diseases
Coma
Cranial Fossa, Posterior
Craniocerebral Trauma
Head
Hematoma
Humans
Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases
Incidence
Paralysis
Stress, Psychological
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage