[Vascular complications after cranio-facial trauma]

Despite recent advances in automobile safety, facial trauma remains a common event. Cranio-facial trauma, which usually occurs within a context of multiple trauma, can, in some patients, lead to serious life-threatening vascular complications. Such injury usually involves the carotid system (hemorrhage, aneurysm, dissection). Management of these vascular injuries must be given the same priority as other multiple trauma injuries. We present few typical cases illustrating carotid-cavernous or vertebro-vertebral fistulae, false aneurysms, arterial dissections or oro-facial bleeding. Bleeding is generally controlled by ligation or compression, other lesions being diagnosed secondarily by arteriography depending on the particular clinical situation. Treatment may involve endovascular procedures to achieve intravascular embolism or vascular occlusion.