Intracranial pseudoaneurysm associated with orbitozygomatic complex fracture

• Published in: The Journal of craniofacial surgery Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 1410 - 1412
• Main Authors: Austin, Ryan E, Stewart, Tara Lynn, Antonyshyn, Oleh M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-07-2014
• Subjects: Carotid Artery Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery Injuries - etiology; Carotid Artery Injuries - surgery; Carotid Artery, Internal - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, Internal - surgery; Cerebral Angiography; Craniotomy; Dentistry; Facial Injuries - complications; Facial Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Facial Injuries - surgery; Female; Fractures, Comminuted - complications; Fractures, Comminuted - diagnostic imaging; Fractures, Comminuted - surgery; Frontal Bone - diagnostic imaging; Frontal Bone - injuries; Frontal Bone - surgery; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Multiple Trauma - complications; Multiple Trauma - diagnostic imaging; Multiple Trauma - surgery; Orbital Fractures - complications; Orbital Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Orbital Fractures - surgery; Risk Factors; Skull Fracture, Depressed - complications; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - complications; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - diagnostic imaging; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - surgery; Young Adult; Zygomatic Fractures - complications; Zygomatic Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Zygomatic Fractures - surgery
• ISSN: 1049-2275; 1536-3732
• DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000000964

Fractures of the orbitozygomatic complex are one of the most common facial fractures encountered by plastic surgeons. Many would consider this to be primarily a cosmetic deformity; however, these injuries can be associated with acute life-threatening complications. Intracranial pseudoaneurysm, although rare, is a well-documented complication of blunt facial trauma, which most plastic surgeons are unaware of. We present the case of a 20-year-old woman who developed an intracranial pseudoaneurysm after blunt facial trauma to illustrate the importance of (1) understanding this rare but highly morbid complication, (2) assessing high-risk patients for pseudoaneurysm, and (3) delaying reconstruction in high-risk patients.