A Clinical Study of Acquired Paralytic Strabismus in a Secondary Hospital

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical course of acquired third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsy at a secondary hospital. METHODS: We analyzed the medical records of 26 patients, 28 eyes who were diagnosed third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsy from March 2004 to September 2005. The clinical courses, affected cranial nerves, etiologic factors and recovery rates were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: The sixth cranial nerve was affected most frequently (12 eyes, 49.2%), followed by the third nerve (11 eyes, 17.9%). Vascular etiologic factors was most common (12 eyes, 42.9%). Only two cases were associated with neurosurgical diseases. Of the 28 eyes that were followed up for at least 3 months, 21 (75.0%) eyes showed a decrease in the angle of deviation. Of these, 14 (50%) eyes recovered completely. CONCLUSIONS: There are many vascular and undetermined etiologic causes of cranial nerve paralysis at 2nd grade hospital. So little cases are result from neurosurgical etiology. There are limitations in finding the affecting factors. Further evaluations for the factors associated with increasing recovery rates were needed.