To explore the different recovery of diverse endovascular treatments of oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) induced by posterior communicating artery (PcomA) aneurysms and the influence factors of ONP recovery.

35 cases of oculomotor nerve palsy induced by posterior communicating artery aneurysms treated with endovascular therapy, admitted to our hospital from 2011 to 2018 were retrospectively studied. The oculomotor nerve function after treatment was assessed during follow-up. The difference of ONP recovery with different treatments was analyzed. The effect of the embolization or not and the degree immediately evaluated by DSA after endovascular treatment on the difference of ONP recovery were analyzed. The factors that may influence ONP recovery including age, the degree of preoperative nerve deficit, the association with SAH, type of endovascular therapy, size of the aneurysms, and timing of treatment after onset of symptoms were analyzed.

Of the 35 patients, 31 (88.6%) recovered. Recovery was complete in 25 patients (71.4%), partial in 6 patients (17.1%), and 4 patient remained unchanged (11.4%). There was no statistical difference (P=1.00) between 3 different endovascular treatments. There was a statistical difference in the ONP recovery of whether embolization or not and the degree after endovascular treatment (P<0.01). Dense embolization and stent implatation were found with better oculomotor nerve function recovery. Age, the degree of preoperative nerve deficit, the association with SAH, the type of endovascular therapy, size of the aneurysms, and timing of treatment after onset of symptoms were not influencing factors for ONP recovery (P>0.05).

There was no statistical difference in ONP recovery of patients between different treatment methods. Dense embolization and stent implantation were found with better oculomotor nerve function recovery.