Abducens palsy following spinal anesthesia: A case report

Abstract

A 52-year-old male patient presented with diplopia and strabismus, which developed 3 weeks ago following spinal anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair. He had left esotropia and abduction was limited (-4) in the left eye. The patient was diagnosed as having 6th cranial nerve palsy secondary to cerebrospinal fluid leakage following dural puncture and had intravenous hydration and epidural blood patch treatment. Diplopia decreased by the first month and his eye movements returned to normal by the 6th month after treatment. 6th cranial nerve palsy econdary to spinal anesthesia is a rare and temporary condition, which is thought to be secondary to the traction of 6th nerve due to intracranial hypotension following cerebrospinal fluid leakage.