Carotid-cavernous Fistula in a Patient with Minimal Head and Facial Trauma: A Case Report

Intracranial arterial injury is typically associated with high-energy trauma. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for improving the patient's functional prognosis. CASE REPORT: A 76-year-old woman complained of pulsatile tinnitus 15 days post motor vehicle collision. On presentation she was found to have sustained polytrauma, mostly to her abdominal and thoracic regions, as well as a facial contusion....

No actionable change for audiology practice; this is a peripheral emergency medicine case report with no direct hearing or vestibular clinical implication.

Although tangential to audiology, awareness of vascular complications presenting with pulsatile tinnitus or eye symptoms after head trauma can prompt timely ENT or neurology referral.

1. 01Carotid-cavernous fistula can occur after seemingly minor head or facial trauma.
2. 02Early diagnosis is critical to preserve vision and cranial nerve function.
3. 03Published as a case report in Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine.
4. 04Pulsatile tinnitus may be a presenting symptom of this vascular abnormality.
5. 05Clinicians should maintain high suspicion in trauma patients with unexplained ocular or neurological signs.

PMID

42377247

DOI

10.5811/cpcem.48556.

Journal

Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Publication type

case_report

Evidence level

4

Sample size

1

Population

Single patient presenting with carotid-cavernous fistula following minimal head and facial trauma

Intervention

Diagnosis and management of carotid-cavernous fistula