Direct Oculomotor Nerve Palsy in Association with A Mild Head Injury: A Case Report

We experienced a rare case of delayed oculomotor nerve palsy due to a mild head injury. A 56-year-old man was admitted via local clinic due to ophthalmoplegia(unilaterally fixed dilated pupil, abducted eyes, and ptosis), which developed 11 days after falling down from a ladder. A magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated subdural fluid collection at left frontal convexity without significant mass effect and localized subarachnoid hemorrhage in right suprasella cistern. Three days after admission, light reflex partially recovered. Gaze limitation and ptosis began to improve 5 days after admission. He was discharged with mild ptosis and gaze limitation 49 days after admission. We discuss the mechanism of direct injury to the oculomotor nerve.