Effects of endovascular treatment and prognostic factors for recovery of oculomotor nerve palsy caused by posterior communicating artery aneurysms: a multi-center retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND: Oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) may result from posterior communicating artery (PcomA) aneurysms. We aimed to evaluate the resolution of ONP after endovascular treatment with the intention of clarifying predictors of nerve recovery in a relatively large series. METHODS: A total of 211 patients with ONP caused by PcomA aneurysms underwent endovascular coiling between May 2010 and December 2020 in four tertiary hospitals. We evaluated the demographics, clinical characteristics, aneurysm morphology parameters and ONP resolution to analyze the predictors of ONP recovery using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: At the last available clinical follow-up, ONP resolution was complete in 126 (59.7%) patients, partial in 73 (34.6%) patients, and no recovery in 12 (5.7%) patients. The median resolution time after endovascular treatment was 55 days (interquartile range: 40–90 days). In multivariate analysis, degree of ONP (incomplete palsy) on admission (OR 5.396; 95% CI 2.836–10.266; P < 0.001), duration of ONP (≤ 14 days) before treatment (OR 5.940; 95% CI 2.724–12.954; P < 0.001) were statistically significant predictors of complete recovery of ONP. In the subgroup analysis of patients with unruptured aneurysms, aspirin showed a higher complete recovery rate in univariate analysis (OR 2.652; 95% CI 1.057–6.656; P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Initial incomplete ONP and early management might predict better recovery of ONP after endovascular treatment.