Carotid Artery Dissection with Minor Trauma And Minor Symptoms

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic carotid artery dissection is a rare but significant cause of ischemic stroke in young population. The delay in the diagnosis may lead to life long morbidity or even death. Symptoms may be delayed to several weeks. We are presenting a case with right internal carotid artery dissection after a low velocity motor vehicle accident with minor nonspecific symptoms. Case: 31 year old woman came to the emergency room on foot, two hours after having a low velocity motor vehicle accident. She did not have any specific complaint. She described hyperextension-flexion injury and there was no direct trauma to head and neck. She had mild tenderness over right cervical paravertebral muscles. Systemic and neurological examination was normal. Cranial and Cervical CT scans were normal. CT angiography revealed dissection of the right internal carotid artery. No complication was observed after anticoagulation. Discussion/Conclusion: Carotid artery dissection may not always fulfill the screening criteria for blunt cerebrovascular injury. Emergency physicians should be suspicious about the vascular pathologies for all head and neck injuries. The most important clue is the injury mechanism. Detailed history must be obtained and patients should be asked in terms of transient symptoms.