L. Stefanis et S. Przedborski, ISOLATED PALSY OF THE SUPERIOR BRANCH OF THE OCULOMOTOR NERVE DUE TO CHRONIC EROSIVE SPHENOID SINUSITIS, Journal of clinical neuro-ophthalmology, 13(4), 1993, pp. 229-231
We report one case with isolated unilateral superior branch oculomotor
nerve palsy due to an erosive sphenoid sinusitis. Within 8 weeks afte
r surgical drainage of the sphenoid sinusitis, the patient recovered f
ully from the superior branch oculomotor palsy. In view of the dramati
c clinical improvement that followed surgery, we hypothesized a compre
ssion of the superior branch of the oculomotor nerve by the sphenoidal
abscess. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a super
ior branch oculomotor nerve palsy related to an erosive sinusitis and
cured by sinusotomy, a safe and simple surgical procedure. Thus, we be
lieve that our observation bears some practical implications of clinic
al importance in the management of patients who present partial oculom
otor nerve palsy.