eMedicine Specialties > Ophthalmology > Extraocular Muscles

Abducens Nerve Palsy: Follow-up

Author: Michael P Ehrenhaus, MD, Director, Department of Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Mohammedyusuf E Hajee, MD, Clinical Instructor, Staff Physician, Department of Ophthalmology, Director, Blood Flow Laboratory, State University of New York-Downstate Medical Center; Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 21, 2009

Follow-up

Complications

  • Persistent esotropia may require a surgical procedure.

Prognosis

  • This condition generally resolves within 6 months.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • With younger people, an aggressive workup should be completed because of the concern of a neoplasm.
  • Giant cell arteritis must be considered in all patients older than 50 years to avoid the devastating complication of bilateral blindness or stroke.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Ryan I Huffman, MD, with the literature review and referencing for this article.



More on Abducens Nerve Palsy

Overview: Abducens Nerve Palsy
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Abducens Nerve Palsy
Treatment & Medication: Abducens Nerve Palsy
Follow-up: Abducens Nerve Palsy
References

References

  1. Evans NM. Ophthalmology. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press Inc; 1995.

  2. Kline LB, Bajandas FJ. Neuro-ophthalmology Review Manual. 3rd ed. University of Alabama, Birmingham; 1988.

  3. Yanoff M, Duker JS. Ophthalmology. Mosby International Ltd; 1999.

  4. Ayberk G, Ozveren MF, Yildirim T, et al. Review of a series with abducens nerve palsy. Turk Neurosurg. Oct 2008;18(4):366-73. [Medline].

  5. Denis D, Dauletbekov D, Girard N. Duane retraction syndrome: Type II with severe abducens nerve hypoplasia on magnetic resonance imaging. J AAPOS. Feb 2008;12(1):91-3. [Medline].

  6. Calisaneller T, Ozdemir O, Altinors N. Posttraumatic acute bilateral abducens nerve palsy in a child. Childs Nerv Syst. Jul 2006;22(7):726-8. [Medline].

  7. Dwarakanath S, Gopal S, Venkataramana NK. Post-traumatic bilateral abducens nerve palsy. Neurol India. Jun 2006;54(2):221-2. [Medline].

  8. Kurbanyan K, Lessell S. Intracranial hypotension and abducens palsy following upper spinal manipulation. Br J Ophthalmol. Jan 2008;92(1):153-5. [Medline].

  9. Hanu-Cernat LM, Hall T. Late onset of abducens palsy after Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Dec 16 2008;[Medline].

  10. Anwar S, Nalla S, Fernando DJ. Abducens nerve palsy as a complication of lumbar puncture. Eur J Intern Med. Dec 2008;19(8):636-7. [Medline].

  11. Rhee DJ, Pyfer MF. The Wills Eye Manual: Office and Emergency Room diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999.

Further Reading

Keywords

abducens nerve palsy, sixth nerve palsy, VI nerve palsy, 6th nerve palsy, cranial nerve VI palsy

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Michael P Ehrenhaus, MD, Director, Department of Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center
Michael P Ehrenhaus, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Mohammedyusuf E Hajee, MD, Clinical Instructor, Staff Physician, Department of Ophthalmology, Director, Blood Flow Laboratory, State University of New York-Downstate Medical Center
Mohammedyusuf E Hajee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and National Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Andrew W Lawton, MD, Medical Director of Neuro-Ophthalmology Service, Section of Ophthalmology, Baptist Eye Center, Baptist Health Medical Center
Andrew W Lawton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Arkansas Medical Society, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute; Chief of Section of Ophthalmology Surgical Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center, West Los Angeles
Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Brian R Younge, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Brian R Younge, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Ophthalmological Society, and North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Lance L Brown, OD, MD, Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

James P Gills, MD, Founder, St Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute; Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of South Florida College of Medicine
James P Gills, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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