Oculomotor Nerve Palsy in Internal Carotid-Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm

ABSTRACT

Internal carotid-posterior communicating artery aneurysms are frequently related to third nerve palsy which is reversible after the clipping of aneurysm. The authors had analyzed 61 cases in 52 patients who have posterior communicating artery aneurysm and evaluated the factors affecting the development of third nerve palsy and its recovery after clipping of the aneurysm. The results are followings 1) Oculomotor nerve palsy was noticed in 10 patients(16.4%) among 61 cases of posterior communicating artery aneurysm, of which 6 had complete and 4 had partial palsies. 2) Posteriolateral inferior direction of the aneurysm seemed to be closely related to the development of ophthalmoplegia. 3) Development of ophthalmoplegia was not related to the clinical status of the patient on admission, but to the amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage on initial CT scan and size of the aneurysm. 4) Preoperative degree of third nerve palsy and the timing of operation are not definitely related to the recovery of ophthalmoplegia. 5) The recovery of third nerve palsy are normalization of ptosis, normalization of EOM limitation and normalization of papillary change in order.