Traumatic internal carotid artery dissections caused by blunt softball injuries

Wouter I. Schievink, John L.D. Atkinson, J. D. Bartleson, Jack P. Whisnant

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

This report describes recently treated patients with carotid artery dissection caused by blunt softball injuries, as well as the results of a study of carotid artery trauma in a community. Data obtained through the medical records linkage system used for epidemiologic studies in Olmsted County, MN were used to identify all cases of traumatic internal carotid artery dissection diagnosed from 1987 through 1994. Four patients with traumatic internal carotid artery dissections were identified during the 8- year period under study. In two patients (50%) the carotid dissection was a result of the direct impact of a softball. A 39-year-old-man, who developed transient cerebral ischemic symptoms, and a 35-year-old woman, who developed a painful Horner's syndrome, were struck by a softball on the anterolateral aspect of the neck. Both patients had a low carotid bifurcation. These data suggest that internal carotid artery dissections may be underrecognized sequelae of direct softball injuries to the anterolateral neck. A low carotid bifurcation may be a risk factor for such injuries.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)179-182
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

Keywords

  • Aneurysm
  • Arterial dissection
  • Baseball
  • Carotid artery
  • Cerebrovascular disease
  • Dissection
  • Softball

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine

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