Traumatic middle cerebral artery occlusion: case report and review of pathogenesis.

Traumatic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a rare cause of cerebral infarct. We describe a case of MCA occlusion following blunt head trauma. The literature reports some 65 cases of MCA occlusion following non-penetrating blunt trauma to the head. Arterial dissection, cerebral vasospasm and thrombosis have been some of the theories discussed in the pathogenesis of this condition. We review the pathogenesis based on anatomy of the M1 segment.