Abducens nerve palsy [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== Abducens nerve palsy ======

{{ ::abducens_nerve_palsy.jpg?300}}

{{rss>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rss/search/1R9m212NERptMpZ96xrnXCKdE65Q1RhU6mqeA9wW-usw_lJokJ/?limit=15&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&fc=20230106104953}}

[[Sixth cranial nerve]] [[palsy]], or abducens [[nerve]] palsy, is a [[disease]] associated with dysfunction of [[cranial nerve]] VI (the [[abducens nerve]]), which is responsible for contracting the [[lateral rectus muscle]] to abduct (i.e., turn out) the [[eye]]. 

====Etiology====

The most common causes of VIth nerve palsy in adults are:

More common: Vasculopathic (diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis), trauma, idiopathic.

Less common: 

[[Increased intracranial pressure]] as [[false localizing sign]]. [[hydrocephalus]], [[brainstem compression]] due to [[cerebellar infarction]]ion

[[Idiopathic intracranial hypertension]]

Abducens nerve palsies reportedly occur in 10% to 60% of patients, whereas other cranial nerve palsies occur much less frequently. A woman with benign intracranial hypertension and facial diplegia who showed complete resolution of her cranial nerve palsies after control of her elevated intracranial pressure with a lumboperitoneal shunt. The pathophysiologic course of cranial nerve palsies in patients with [[Idiopathic intracranial hypertension]] is uncertain but in most cases probably represents a nonspecific pressure-related phenomenon, as was clearly demonstrated in this patient
((Kiwak KJ, Levine SE. Benign intracranial hypertension and facial diplegia.
Arch Neurol. 1984 Jul;41(7):787-8. PubMed PMID: 6743073.))

Giant cell arteritis

[[Infratentorial tumor]]s

Cavernous sinus mass (e.g. meningioma, Brain stem Glioblastoma aneurysm, metastases)

Multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis/vasculitis

[[Gradenigo syndrome]]

Stroke (usually not isolated)

Chiari Malformation

Hydrocephalus.

===Pseudoabducens palsy===

[[Thyroid eye disease]]

===Lumbar puncture===

[[Lumbar puncture]]
((Koeppen AH. Abducens palsy after lumbar puncture. Proc Wkly Semin Neurol. 1967
Jul;17(2):68-76. PubMed PMID: 4907858.))

Almost unilateral. Often delayed 5-14 days post LP, usually recovers after 4-6 weeks.

**Lumbar myelography**

Unspecific side effects which cannot clearly be differentiated from pure post-lumbal puncture complaints are reported to occur in up to 28%. The probably underlying pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed together with former animal experiments which revealed a local toxity of the contrast medium at the central nervous tissue and the surrounding membranes
((Büchele W, Kunitsch G, Brandt T. [Lumbar myelography with
methylglucamine-iocarmate (dimer-x). A critical review of neurological
complications (author's transl)]. Rontgenblatter. 1979 Jan;32(1):39-45. German.
PubMed PMID: 424674.)).


Five patients who developed abducens palsy after myelography with watersoluble contrast media are reported. These palsies can be compared to abducens palsies after spinal anesthesia and diagnostic lumbar puncture. They are most likely due to the lumbar puncture. The arguments for this explanation are discussed. The experience with these five patients suggests a greater incidence of postpuncture abducens palsy after myelography with watersoluble contrast media than after spinal anesthesia or lumbar puncture. If this first impression is verified, it could point to an additional toxic action
((Seyfert S, Mager J. Abducens palsy after lumbar myelography with watersoluble 
contrast media. J Neurol. 1978 Dec 7;219(3):213-20. PubMed PMID: 84865.)).

[[Clivus fracture]]

Idiopathic

Abducens nerve palsy is the most common complication after transvenous embolization (TVE) for cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula. Abducens nerve palsy is reported to have a good prognosis after the symptoms have been alleviated
((Kashiwazaki D, Kuwayama N, Akioka N, Kuroda S. Delayed abducens nerve palsy
after transvenous coil embolization for cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous
fistulae. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2014 Jan;156(1):97-101. doi:
10.1007/s00701-013-1926-3. Epub 2013 Nov 5. PubMed PMID: 24190456.
)).



===== Clinical features and diagnosis =====
The inability of an eye to turn outward results in convergent [[strabismus]] or esotropia of which the primary symptom is [[diplopia]] which is worse when looking towards the affected side.

The condition is commonly unilateral but can also occur bilaterally.

The unilateral abducens nerve palsy is the most common of the isolated ocular motor nerve palsies.

===== Treatment =====

[[Abducens nerve palsy treatment]]