Traumatic aneurysms.

A traumatic aneurysm is a potentially lethal complication of head trauma. The problem is unusual but not rare. The majority of traumatic aneurysms are caused by blunt injuries to the head (62%), although penetrating wounds (27%) and iatrogenic trauma (11%) during intracranial surgery are also well recognized. The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of traumatic aneurysm are discussed, with focus on the patient course and nursing implications of a case study.