Pdf isolated sixth cranial nerve palsy is a type of mononeuropathy resulting in the weakness of the lateral rectus muscle that allows the eye to move. The most common cause for a sixth nerve palsy in this age group was a central nervous system. The sixth nerve emerges from the lower part of your brain. Volpe, mdb anatomy eye movements are subserved by the ocular motor nerves cranial nerves 3, 4, and 6, which innervate the 6 extraocular muscles of each eye fig. Cranial nerve vi innervates the lateral rectus muscle.
Other times, sixth nerve palsy may come with other neurological or other symptoms. This material will help you understand sixth nerve palsy and how it is treated. A nerve disorder where the cranial nerve vi doesnt function properly and hence the eye cant look outwards towards the ears. These functions includeeye movements, swallowing, facial sensation, and other facial movements. To describe the causes and treatment of sixth abducens nerve palsy in a series of pediatric patients. This is sometimes due to injury of the sixth cranial nerve during labor or delivery. It can also result from other problems that happen later on. These palsies usually resolve, but recurrence is frequent. Etiology and treatment of pediatric sixth nerve palsy ophed. Sometimes, sixth nerve palsy is present from birth. The etiology and outcomes of bilateral sixth nerve palsy have not been reported for many years,1x1keane, j.
It travels a long way before reaching the lateral rectus. Palsies of the third, fourth and sixth cranial nerves have ophthalmological consequences. Damage at any point along its path can cause the nerve to work poorly or not at all. The condition can be congenital and affect a person from birth. Cause and prognosis of nontraumatic sixth nerve palsies in young. Sixth nerve palsy symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and. There are 12 pairs of nerves cranial nerves that control most of the functions of the head and neck. Orthoptic department information sheet symptoms sixth vi. If you need this document in an alternative format, for example, large print, braille or a language other than english, please contact the communications office by. Eye movements are subserved by the ocular motor nerves cranial nerves 3, 4.
Sixth nerve palsy genetic and rare diseases information. Sometimes, sixth nerve palsy happens without any other symptoms. Sixth nerve palsy is frequently due to a benign process with full recovery within weeks, yet caution is warranted as it may portend a serious neurologic process. Of 48 charts identified, 19 met our inclusion criteria, having a record of brain tumor associated with sixth nerve palsy and 2 or more eye clinic visits at least 6 months apart. An overview of the third, fourth and sixth cranial nerve palsies. Sixth nerve palsy may be caused by many things, including stroke, brain aneurysm, diabetic neuropathy, trauma, infections, inflammation, tumors, migraine headaches or intracranial pressure.