The diseases of the middle ear are known to cause paralysis of various cranial nerves, among which the facial nerve is most frequently involved.
Report of paralysis of the abducens is rare after the advent of various antimicrobial agents.
The authors report a 20-year-old male who manifested paralysis of the abducens as well as of the facial nerve due to chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma.
The cause of the abducens involvement appeared to be an extradural abscess and/or inflammation of the petrous apex.
The two nerves resumed functions after surgical treatment of the cholesteatoma.
