Objective To analyze the clinical features of oculomotor nerve palsy following minor head injury. Methods The severity of oculomotor nerve palsy and the functional recovery in 20 patients with minor head injury were evaluated based on extraocular muscle movement, eyelid movement, and the pupil size. The average follow-up period was 14.2 months (ranging from 3 months to 2 years).Results Fifteen male and 5 female patients were recruited to the study. The most common cause of trauma was motor vehicle accident (13 cases, 65.4%). Internal ophthalmoplegia was the most frequently seen clinical symptom. The recovery rates of ptosis, external ophthalmoplegia, and internal ophthalmoplegia were 95%(19 cases), 83.3%(17 cases), and 50%(10 cases), respectively.Conclusions Limitation of eye movements is the major factor that negatively affects the quality of life in patients with oculomotor nerve palsy after minor head injury. Sphenoid bone fracture might be one of the potential mechanisms that trigger the traumatic oculomotor nerve palsy.