Spontaneous Recovery Rate in Traumatic Sixth-nerve Palsy

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology Vol. 122; no. 6; pp. 898 - 899
• Main Authors: Mutyala, Srinivas, Holmes, Jonathan M., Hodge, David O., Younge, Brian R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.12.1996; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abducens Nerve Injury; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Injuries - physiopathology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cranial Nerve Diseases - physiopathology; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Paralysis - physiopathology; Remission, Spontaneous; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate; Human; Eye disease; Nervous system diseases; Cranial nerve disease; Abducens nerve; Motor system disorder; Etiology; Spontaneous; Paralysis; Oculomotor syndrome; Recovery; Trauma
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(14)70394-0

To estimate the spontaneous recovery rate of isolated traumatic sixth-nerve palsy. A retrospective chart review over a 24-year period at a single institution, excluding patients who were first seen more than 6 weeks after injury, to reduce bias toward nonrecovery. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimate of spontaneous recovery at 6 months was 27% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5% to 44%) in unilateral traumatic sixth-nerve palsy and 12% (95% CI, 0% to 33%) in bilateral traumatic sixth-nerve palsy. Spontaneous recovery from isolated traumatic sixth-nerve palsy may be lower than previously reported. A prospective study is needed to provide a more accurate estimate of recovery rate.