title: Middle ear infection and sixth nerve palsy.
abstract: Three cases of patients with acute middle ear infections complicated by a sixth nerve palsy are described. The possible causes of sixth nerve palsy in such cases are discussed. We propose that where there is a sixth nerve palsy without petrositis and without raised intracranial pressure, it can arise as a result of spreading phlebitis along the inferior petrosal sinus from the lateral sinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000010:Abducens Nerve; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed