BACKGROUND: Blunt internal carotid artery (ICA) injury is rare but undiagnosed can have disastrous clinical consequences. AIM: To report a late presentation of blunt ICA injury in a young male following a road traffic accident. RESULT: A 16-year-old male presented 11 days following a head injury with a unilateral Horner's syndrome. Imaging confirmed a pseudoaneurysm of the ICA. The patient was treated with anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of ICA injury requires a high index of suspicion and presentation with unusual neurological signs following blunt trauma to the head and neck requires prompt investigation.
BACKGROUND: Blunt internal carotid artery (ICA) injury is rare but undiagnosed can have disastrous clinical consequences. AIM: To report a late presentation of blunt ICA injury in a young male following a road traffic accident. RESULT: A 16-year-old male presented 11 days following a head injury with a unilateral Horner's syndrome. Imaging confirmed a pseudoaneurysm of the ICA. The patient was treated with anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of ICA injury requires a high index of suspicion and presentation with unusual neurological signs following blunt trauma to the head and neck requires prompt investigation.
Authors: Preston R Miller; Timothy C Fabian; Martin A Croce; Catherine Cagiannos; J Scott Williams; Meng Vang; Waleed G Qaisi; Richard E Felker; Shelly D Timmons Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2002-09 Impact factor: 12.969