Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Traumatic carotid artery dissections (CAD) are rare but produce potentially devastating injuries. Most patients develop symptoms within 72 hours of traumatic injury.

Case Report: We report the case of a 33-year-old, previously healthy male who presented to the emergency department for evaluation of transient, right-sided facial droop with visual changes. His symptoms began 12 days after falling off a scooter. Imaging revealed an extracranial internal CAD.

Conclusion: Symptoms of CAD may present weeks after blunt trauma, making clinical diagnosis difficult. Clinicians must have high suspicion for vascular injury and consider neuroimaging in cervical flexion/extension injuries.