Abducens Nerve Palsy
The sixth cranial nerve, or abducens nerve, controls the muscles used in outward eye movement. Impairment of this important visual component can result in a wide range of conditions, although it is usually first expressed in a patient as diplopia (also known as double-vision).
In adults, abducens nerve palsy is generally the result of a stroke or similar neurological episode. However, as with all types of facial paralysis, it is also an unfortunately common feature of a traumatic birth. Some of the factors that have been linked to abducens palsy sustained by newborns during delivery include:
- The use of an epidural (surface) anesthetic
- Prolonged term or labor
- A large baby (if, for instance, the mother suffers from diabetes)
- A medication used to induce labor and produced stronger contractions
- Damage from forceps and other medical instruments
Recognizing abducens nerve palsy in an infant can be difficult. As with many conditions involving eye deviations, the body will often find ways to compensate for the focusing problems involved. Many cases of diplopia are not even detected until adulthood due to this unintentional suppression.
Of course, a child with abducens has the best chance for recovery with or without surgical intervention if the condition is caught early on, so parents who suspect the birth was a particularly traumatic one should make sure their child has been thoroughly examined for birth injuries.
Contact Us
If your child has been affected by abducens nerve palsy or a related condition, and you believe the healthcare provider responsible for delivery may have been in some way at fault, contact the experienced Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today by calling 215-238-1130.