Third nerve palsies

The diagnosis and management of third nerve dysfunction varies according to the age of the patient, characteristics of the third nerve palsy, and pres ence of associated symptoms and signs. Indeed, third nerve palsies may be p artial or complete, congenital or acquired, isolated or accompanied by sign s of more extensive neurological involvement. They can result from lesions located anywhere from the oculomotor nucleus to the termination of the thir d nerve in the extra-ocular muscles within the orbit. Recent advances in no ninvasive neuroimaging facilitate early diagnosis; however, management of a patient presenting with an isolated third nerve palsy remains a challenge.