Strangulation of the internal carotid artery by the hypoglossal nerve.

Various aspects of blunt trauma to the internal carotid artery (ICA) can be found in the literature. Lesions of the arterial wall of the ICA at its intersection with the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) were observed in a limited number of surgically treated cases. The pathophysiology of the whiplash injury and the anatomic proximity of the crossing nerve to the lateral arterial wall suggest a further mechanism of vascular injury in this area.