[Ocular Motor Nerve Palsies Caused by Paragliding Accidents]

Paragliding is a risk-taking adventure sport. It can be performed either individually or accompanied by a pilot in tandem formation. Paragliding, as well as other types of "extreme" sport, have gained popularity over the past few years. Injuries predominantly involve the lower extremities and the spinal column. Head injuries occur only rarely.

Retrospective case series of three patients with ocular motor nerve palsies caused by paragliding accidents. Patients' characteristics with special emphasis on treatment strategies are reported.

Two men (41 and 56 years of age) suffered from open head injuries and one 56-year-old male from a closed head injury as part of polytrauma caused by paragliding accidents. All patients complained of double vision. The first patient showed a right abducens nerve palsy and elevation deficit due to a complex orbital fracture. Patient 2 had a traumatic right six nerve palsy. The third patient had a complex motility disorder with a bilateral abducens and trochlear nerve palsy. In all three cases, eye muscle surgery improved ocular motility. Two patients regained binocular single vision.

Characteristics of injuries caused by paragliding accidents depend on the trauma scenario. Injury pattern might differ widely. Ocular motor nerve palsies often accompany head trauma. Treatment is guided by common strategies for incomitant strabismus. These ocular motility disorders are often complex and require an individually tailored approach.