neurologic disorders
Sixth Cranial (Abducens) Nerve Palsy
Etiology of Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsy
Sixth cranial (abducens) nerve palsy results from the following: Typically, small-vessel disease, particularly in diabetics as part of a disorder called mononeuritis multiplex ( Multiple Mononeuropathy ) Microvascular disease secondary to diabetes or hypertension Sometimes hypertension Compression of the nerve by lesions in the cavernous sinus (eg, nasopharyngeal tumors), orbit (eg, orbital cellulitis), or base of the skull Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension None Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) None Overview of Meningitis None Meningeal carcinomatosis Wernicke Encephalopathy None Aneurysm Overview of Vasculitis None Multiple Sclerosis (MS) None Pontine stroke Tumors affecting the meninges Rarely, Post–Lumbar Puncture and Other Low–Pressure Headaches (eg, after lumbar puncture) Cavernous sinus lesions may be due to thrombosis, infection, a nasopharyngeal tumor, or an aneurysm. Children with an upper respiratory infection may have recurrent palsy. However, the cause of an isolated 6th cranial nerve palsy is often not identified. 