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Published on: March 26, 2019

The epidemiology of BCVI at a single state trauma centre

Peter Y K Hwang1, Philip M Lewis, Yagnesh V Balasubramani

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia. p.hwang@alfred.org.au

Injury
|April 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Blunt carotid and vertebral artery injury (BCVI) is a rare but serious condition. Motor vehicle accident patients with cervical spine fractures, particularly in the upper spine, face a significantly higher risk of BCVI.

Area of Science:

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Blunt carotid and vertebral artery injury (BCVI) is an uncommon yet severe consequence of trauma.
  • Understanding BCVI's incidence, patterns, and associations is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence, patterns, presentation, and associated injuries of BCVI.
  • To identify risk factors and patient outcomes associated with BCVI.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of trauma admissions between 2003 and 2006.
  • Data sourced from hospital health information systems, medical records, and neurosurgery databases.
  • Injuries classified using the Denver grading scale.

Main Results:

  • 67 cases of BCVI (0.64%) identified among 10,417 trauma admissions.
  • Motor vehicle accidents were the primary cause (43/67).
  • High association with head injuries (35%) and cervical spine fractures (57%).
  • Upper cervical spine fractures in MVA patients increased BCVI risk 22.9-fold.
  • Stroke occurred in 32% of patients, with a 20% mortality rate.

Conclusions:

  • BCVI, though infrequent, represents a significant injury with high morbidity and mortality.
  • Cervical spine fractures, especially upper C-spine, are critical indicators for BCVI risk in MVA patients.
Abstract

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