Blunt Carotid Artery Injuries |
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Injury to the carotid and vertebral arteries is a rare but known occurence associated with certain types of blunt trauma to the face and head. In an aggressive angiographic screening program carried out at a level I trauma center, these injuries were found to occur in 1% or more of patients with characteristic types of trauma. The natural history of these lesions is still being elucidated and optimal treatment plans formulated. A grading scheme has been proposed by Biffle, et al (1):
Grade I - intimal irregularity with <25% narrowing
Grade II - dissection with >25% luminal narrowing
Grade III - pseudoaneurysm
Grade IV - occlusion
Grade V - transection with extravasation
The cases below represent a sample of the type of injuries and their representative appearance.
1. Biffl WL, Moore EE, Offner PJ, et al. Blunt carotid arterial injuries: Implications of a new grading scale. J Trauma. 1999;47:845-853
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