# Traumatic oculomotor nerve avulsion with subarachnoid hemorrhage identified using magnetic resonance imaging

## TL;DR

A case of traumatic oculomotor nerve damage and subarachnoid hemorrhage was identified using MRI in a patient after a traffic accident.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the use of MRI for detecting oculomotor nerve injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage in traumatic cases.

## Key findings

- MRI identified oculomotor nerve disruption and subarachnoid hemorrhage in a 63-year-old female post-accident.
- Conservative treatment improved consciousness but did not resolve oculomotor nerve palsy symptoms.
- MRI with steady-state constructive interference is valuable for detecting cranial nerve damage in tentorial gaps.

## Abstract

Traumatic injury to the oculomotor nerve is a serious condition and generally carries a poor prognosis.Herein, we report a case of oculomotor nerve disruption with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage that was identified using an imaging technique. A 63-year-old female patient was brought to our emergency department following a traffic accident. Conservative treatment was initiated, leading to an improvement in her level of consciousness, although her right oculomotor nerve palsy symptoms remained unalleviated. She was discharged 2 weeks later with persistent symptoms of right oculomotor nerve palsy. In cases of cranial nerve palsy following head injuries, magnetic resonance imaging using steady-state constructive interference can provide valuable insights for detecting damage within the tentorial gap.