Abstract

DESIGN: Hospital based prospective study. PURPOSE: To determine etiology of sixth cranial nerve palsy and its effect on prognosis. METHODS: 52 patients who presented with acquired abducens nerve palsy between April 2022 and March 2023 were recruited in the study. They were followed up for 3 months. Etiology & rate of recovery was noted. RESULT: Mean age was 47 years. Mean duration of recovery was 70 days. 50% cases (n = 26) were of vascular etiology, 21% (n = 11) were idiopathic, 17% (n = 9) were due to trauma and 12% (n = 6) due to neoplasm. 21% (n = 11) did not recover. Rate of recovery was 79%. Among those who did not recover 46% (n = 5) were neoplastic, 27% (n = 3) traumatic, 18% ( n = 2) of vascular etiology & 9% ( n = 1) idiopathic. CONCLUSION: Most common cause of sixth nerve palsy was vascular (50%), followed by idiopathic (21%), trauma (17%) and neoplasm (12%). Prognosis was best for idiopathic and worst for neoplastic cases.

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