title: Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula: pathophysiology and treatment.
abstract: Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulae are rare yet potentially lethal vascular anomalies in the skull base seen after craniomaxillofacial trauma. This aberrant vascular communication has been extensively evaluated and classified, with a number of treatment modalities available to clinicians. The ultimate and definitive treatment of carotid-cavernous fistulae falls beyond the scope of craniomaxillofacial surgery. Nevertheless, clinicians treating patients with craniofacial injuries should have a complete understanding of this pathological entity, because urgent intervention may improve patient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Florida-Jacksonville, 32209, USA. Tirbod.Fattahi@Jax.Ufl.Edu
authors.forename: Tirbod T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Fattahi
authors.forename: M Todd
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: W Scott
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000473:pathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D012886:Skull / Q000293:injuries*