Stroke after piercing barbed wire injury: a time for introspection

Traumatic internal carotid artery (ICA) dissections are uncommon and an easily overlooked consequence of trauma with significant morbidity and mortality. These dissections may result from a direct blow to the anterolateral aspect of the neck or an extreme extension and rotation of the neck. Normally, various sporting activities such as scuba diving, winter sports, rugby, baseball, golf, taekwondo, and triathlon have rarely been associated with ICA dissection. Herein, we describe a case of young veterinary nursing personnel who developed stroke because of ICA dissection resulting from quite an unusual mode of injury caused by piercing barbed wire over his neck during his routine rounds for examining the animals.