[Postoperative recovery of aneurysm of posterior communicating artery-induced oculomotor palsy: clinical observation of 52 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prognosis of aneurysm of posterior communicating artery-induced oculomotor palsy after surgery. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with aneurysm of posterior communicating artery-induced oculomotor palsy, 12 males and 40 females, aged 57, diagnosed by CT, MRI, and digital subtraction angiography, were divided into 2 groups: group A (n = 20, receiving simple clipping of the aneurysmal neck) and group B (n = 32, undergoing clipping of the aneurysmal neck followed by nerve decompression such as resection or puncture of the aneurysmal sac), and were followed up for 12 months (2-48 months). RESULTS: In the group A 10 patients were operated on within 14 days after the onset of oculomotor palsy showed complete recovery of the oculomotor nerve function within 40 days after operation; 8 patients were operated on within 14-30 days after the onset of oculomotor palsy showed complete recovery within 30-90 days after operation in 7 patients and incomplete recovery in 1 patient; and 2 patients were operated on 30 days after the onset of oculomotor palsy showed complete recovery within 6 months after operation in 1 patient and incomplete recovery in the other patient. In the group B 15 patients were operated on within 14 days after the onset of oculomotor palsy all showed complete recovery within 40 days after operation; 14 patients were operated on within 14-30 days after the onset of oculomotor palsy showed complete recovery within 30-90 days after operation in 12 patients and incomplete recovery in 2 patients; and 3 patients were operated on 30 days after the onset of oculomotor palsy showed complete recovery within 6 months after operation in 2 patients and incomplete recovery in the other one patient. There was no significant difference in the recovery rate between these 2 groups. Recovery of the oculomotor nerve function was remarkably correlated with the time of operation after the onset. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and treatment help recover the oculomotor nerve function. The recovery of the oculomotor nerve function is not related to the operation protocols.