Endovascular management of a complex intracranial internal carotid artery dissection in an adolescent

Background Blunt cerebrovascular injury is an important cause of morbidity and mortality following head trauma. Intracranial vessel dissections, carotid-cavernous fistulae, and pseudo-aneurysms are uncommon traumatic vascular lesions with limited evidence to guide endovascular management. Case description We describe the case of a sixteen year old male patient suffering a traumatic paraclinoidal internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection with carotid-cavernous fistula and ophthalmic artery pseudo-aneurysm. Repeat angiography demonstrated worsening dissection prompting an endovascular parent vessel sacrifice following a passed balloon test occlusion. Relevant imaging is included. Conclusions Amongst new and developing stenting technologies as well as complex surgical solutions, utilizing a modern endovascular adaptation of simple Hunterian ligation to treat a complex multi-pronged pathology may in some cases represent the best available option. Given the limited published literature, our diagnostic and treatment approach may be informative to clinicians as well as inform an evidence based management approach in similar complex intracranial vascular injuries.