BLUNT TRAUMA LESIONS OF THE EXTRACRANIAL INTERNAL CAROTID-ARTERY IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD-INJURY

Blunt trauma lesions of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) are rare. In our hospital 18 patients with such an injury were diagno sed. All patients were involved in traffic accidents. Most of them had sustained head injuries with fractures of the skull, mandible or maxi lla. The onset of neurological signs, most frequently hemiparesis, was usually delayed. 50 percent had bilateral ICA lesions but the clinica l presentation was similar to those with unilateral lesions. Mortality of patients with ICA lesions was substantial (28%).