Imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion caused by skull base fracture: Three case reports

BACKGROUND Traumatic internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion is a rare complication of skull base fractures, characterized by high mortality and disability rates, and poor prognosis. Therefore, timely discovery and correct management are crucial for saving the lives of such patients and improving their prognosis. This article retrospectively analyzed the imaging and clinical data of three patients, to explore the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion, combined with severe skull base fractures. CASE SUMMARY This case included three patients, all male, aged 21, 63, and 16 years. They underwent plain film skull computed tomography (CT) examination at the onset of their illnesses, which revealed fractures at the bases of their skulls. Ultimately, these cases were definitively diagnosed through CT angiography (CTA) examinations. The first patient did not receive surgical treatment, only anticoagulation therapy, and recovered smoothly with no residual limb dysfunction (Case 1). The other two patients both developed intracranial hypertension and underwent decompressive craniectomy. One of these patients had high intracranial pressure and significant brain swelling postoperatively, leading the family to choose to take him home (Case 2). The other patient also underwent decompressive craniectomy and recovered well postoperatively with only mild limb motor dysfunction (Case 3). We retrieved literature from PubMed on skull base fractures causing ICA occlusion to determine the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for this type of disease. CONCLUSION For patients with cranial trauma combined with skull base fractures, it is essential to complete a CTA examination as soon as possible, to screen for blunt cerebrovascular injury.