PARALYSIS OF ABDUCENS NERVE AFTER SADDLE BLOCK IN A GERIATRIC PATIENT: CASE REPORT

Abstract

Paralysis of abducens nerve is a very rare reversible complication of lumbar puncture, which is a common procedure most often used for diagnostic and anesthetic purposes. The incidence of postdural puncture headache and paralysis of abducens nerve is related with younger age, female gender, and the diameter and shape of the needle used, and also with multiple insertions of the needle into the subarachnoid space. Traction on the sixth cranial nerve due to cerebrospinal fluid leak leads to lateral rectus muscle palsy. Alternative types of anesthesia or performing spinal anesthesia using smaller diameter or atraumatic spinal needles may help to decrease the incidence of abducens palsy. We aimed to present a case of 6th nerve paralysis after spinal anaesthesia in a geriatric patient who was not in the risk group.