Abstract

• Aim: To determine ocular motor nerve palsy in patients with head trauma. • Methods: There were three hundred admitted cases of head trauma in neurosurgery department of Shahid Rahnemon Hospital from March 2006 to September 2006. Data were collected with ophthalmic examinations, filled in questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS software statistically including Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. • Results: A total of 300 patients were reviewed, 242 (81.1) men and 58 (18.9) women. Their age ranged from 1 to 87 years (mean of 46 years). Accident and fall were the most common causes of head trauma, occurring in 247 (82.3) patients and most of patients had Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 13-15 (82.3). The most cerebral lesion was subdural and subarachnoid hematoma. Isolated trochlear and abducens nerve palsy (28.6), isolated oculomotor nerve and combined nerve palsies (combination of 3rd and 4th cranial nerves, 14.3) were the most affected nerves. • Conclusion: Although the cranial nerve palsy is rare with minor head trauma, according to their observation in emergency room, neuroophtalmic examination is advised.