Chronic sixth nerve palsies. Are they really harbingers of serious intracranial disease?
P. J. Savino, J. K. Hilliker, G. H. Casell and N. J. Schatz
Abducens palsies are encountered frequently in ophthalmologic practice and
are usually benign transient deficits. When a sixth nerve palsy lasts
longer than three months, conventional wisdom dictates an extensive
investigation. In this report, we describe 38 patients with chronic,
isolated sixth nerve palsies. The patient who is seen initially with an
abducens palsy should undergo thorough medical and neurologic examinations
to determine if the palsy is isolated. If it is isolated, the condition is
not likely due to serious intracranial disease despite a duration of
greater than three months.
