What complication commonly arises from cavernous sinus thrombosis?

Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in the cavernous sinus, a cavity at the base of the skull. This condition can lead to various neurological complications due to the anatomic position and the specific cranial nerves that traverse this area.

The inability to move the eye appropriately is correct because the cavernous sinus houses the cranial nerves responsible for extraocular movements, particularly cranial nerves III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), and VI (abducens). When a thrombosis occurs in this sinus, it can cause compression or dysfunction of these nerves, resulting in ophthalmoplegia—an inability to move the eye in certain directions.

Additionally, other symptoms associated with cavernous sinus thrombosis can include visual disturbances and potentially life-threatening complications such as meningitis or sepsis due to the proximity of the sinus to critical structures. While facial swelling and loss of facial sensation may be symptoms encountered in other conditions, they are not the primary neurological deficit directly associated with cavernous sinus thrombosis as the cranial nerves affected are primarily those involved in eye movement.