J Korean Soc Traumatol.  2008 Jun;21(1):66-69.

A Case of Traumatic Bilateral Abducens Nerve Palsy Associated with Skull Base Fracture

• Hwang JI
• Cho JS
• Lee SC
• Lee JH

Abstract

Traumatic bilateral abducens nerve palsy is rare and is associated with intracranial, skull and cervical spine injuries. We report a case of bilateral abducens nerve palsy in a 40-month-old patient with a skull base fracture. The injury mechanism was associated with direct nerve injury caused by a right petrous bone fracture and indirect injury by frontal impact on the abducens nerve at the point of fixation to the petrous portion and Dorello`s canal. The emergency physician should be aware of injuries and the mechanism of abducens nerve palsy in head trauma.

Keyword

Bilateral traumatic abducens nerve palsy; Skull base fracture; Head trauma

MeSH Terms

Abducens Nerve
Abducens Nerve Diseases
Craniocerebral Trauma
Emergencies
Humans
Petrous Bone
Preschool Child
Skull
Skull Base
Spine