Bilateral third nerve palsy from ‘minor’ head trauma

Abstract

A 51-year-old man developed bilateral third nerve palsy following closed head trauma without significant alteration of consciousness and no other neurologic deficit. Detailed investigations to rule out pre-existing intracranial pathology were unrevealing. Five cases of unilateral isolated third nerve palsy from ‘minor head’ trauma1-4 and eight cases of isolated bilateral third nerve palsy from severe head trauma1,2,5 have been reported, one of which was bilateral5. This is the second bilateral isolated third nerve palsy to be recorded with ‘minor’ head trauma.