Blunt carotid artery injury
Stroke prediction
Classification
Grade I
Luminal irregularity or dissection with < 25% luminal narrowing. 3% stroke risk.
Grade II
Dissection or intramural hematoma with ≥ luminal narrowing, intraluminal thrombus, or raised intimal flap. 11% stroke risk.
Grade III
Pseudoaneurysm. 33% stroke risk.
Grade IV
Occlusion. 44% stroke risk.
Grade V
Transection with free extravasation. 100% stroke risk.
Reference(s)
Biffl WL, Moore EE, Offner PJ, Brega KE, Franciose RJ, Burch JM. Blunt carotid arterial injuries: implications of a new grading scale. The Journal of trauma. 1999 Nov;47(5):845-53.