Neurovascular compression of the abducent nerve causing abducent palsy treated by microvascular decompression

Isolated abducent palsy is a symptom that can be caused by many different intracranial pathological conditions. In this report the authors describe the case of a patient who suffered isolated abducent palsy resulting from vascular compression of the sixth cranial nerve; surgical treatment consisted of microvascular decompression (MVD). This 56-year-old man presented with short-lasting episodes of a pulling sensation at the lateral side of his right eye associated with intermittent diplopia, followed by a progressive palsy of the abducent nerve and constant diplopia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a neurovascular contact of a dolichoectatic basilar artery with the abducent nerve. The patient underwent surgery consisting of a combined supra- and infratentorial presigmoid approach and subsequent MVD of the abducent nerve. Postoperatively, the abducent nerve palsy resolved within days, and the patient remains free of symptoms with a follow-up time of 4 years. This is the first report of a neurovascular compression of the abducent nerve treated successfully by MVD.