An unrecognized neurological syndrome: sixth-nerve palsy and Horner's syndrome due to traumatic intracavernous carotid aneurysm.

An unclassified type of ophthalmoplegia, composed of sixth-nerve paresis and Horner's syndrome without facial anhidrosis, was studied in an 18-year-old woman following cranial trauma. Carotid angiography disclosed a traumatic intracavernous carotid aneurysm. According to previous anatomical reports, an important sympathetic nerve joins the sixth cranial nerve in the posterior part of the cavernous sinus. An expansive process into the cavernous sinus at this point may cause this unclassified neurological syndrome. A review of the literature and a detailed clinical study were made.