What is Carotid Artery Injury?

Blunt and penetrating traumatic injuries of the common, internal, or external carotid arteries which may result from CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA; THORACIC INJURIES; and NECK INJURIES. Damage to the artery may lead to CAROTID ARTERY THROMBOSIS; CAROTID-CAVERNOUS SINUS FISTULA; pseudoaneurysm formation; and internal carotid artery dissection (CAROTID ARTERY, INTERNAL, DISSECTION). Clinical manifestations (e.g., stroke, HORNER SYNDROME) may be immediate or delayed. (From Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1997 Sep;18(3):251-7; J Trauma 1994 Sep;37(3):473-9)