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Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model of Neonatal Stroke in P10 Rats
Published on: April 21, 2017
Face-off Droop: A Case Report of Pediatric Stroke
Duncan Robertson1, Hayden F Peirce2, Marek D Nicpon3
1University of Massachusetts, Chan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Insights
Pediatric stroke is rare but serious. A traumatic clavicular injury can lead to cerebrovascular accidents in children, necessitating prompt evaluation for acquired causes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) are uncommon in children, affecting 0.6-7.9/100,000 patients under 16.
- CVAs are the fourth leading cause of acute neurological deficits in pediatric patients.
- Prompt evaluation is crucial for timely intervention in suspected pediatric stroke cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report an uncommon case of pediatric stroke.
- To highlight the potential link between traumatic clavicular injury and cerebrovascular accidents.
- To emphasize the importance of considering acquired causes of stroke in children.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a previously healthy 17-year-old male presenting with stroke symptoms.
- Clinical evaluation of neurological deficits including facial droop and hemiparesis.
- Retrospective analysis of patient history for potential causative factors, including recent trauma.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with acute neurological deficits consistent with a stroke.
- The stroke was attributed to a traumatic clavicular injury sustained two weeks prior.
- This case represents an unusual presentation of pediatric stroke secondary to trauma.
Conclusions:
- Cerebrovascular accidents are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients.
- While congenital factors are common, acquired causes like trauma to major blood vessels must be assessed.
- Arterial structures near the medial clavicle, though rarely implicated, can lead to severe complications following injury.
Introduction:
Cerebrovascular accidents rarely occur in children; the incidence of ischemic stroke in patients <16 years of age is between 0.6-7.9/100,000. However, they are the fourth most common cause of acute neurological deficits in the pediatric population, and possible cases should be evaluated with a high index of suspicion to ensure timely intervention.
Case Report:
We describe a previously healthy 17-year-old male who presented to the pediatric emergency department with a left facial droop and hemiparesis consistent with a stroke. The patient's age and lack of comorbidities made this an extremely uncommon presentation. Our patient's neurologic symptoms were believed to have been caused by a recent traumatic clavicular injury sustained two weeks prior, which subsequently led to vascular insult.
Conclusion:
Cerebrovascular accidents are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients. Cerebrovascular accidents in children are most often secondary to congenital causes; however, care should be taken to assess for acquired causes, such as trauma to major blood vessels. While rarely implicated in traumatic injuries, arterial structures posterior to the medial clavicle can result in severe complications.
