title: Giant life-threatening external carotid artery pseudoaneurysm caused by a mandibular condylar fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular lesions are rare complications associated to mandibular condylar fractures. This paper aims to describe a case of a giant pseudoaneurysm involving the external carotid artery (ECA) caused by a condylar fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 33-year-old man was the victim of traffic accident and presented with a panfacial fracture, including a bilateral condylar fracture. The condylar fracture was treated by closed reduction, and 4 weeks after treatment, the patient developed facial edema, which suggested postoperative infection. An attempt at draining it resulted in intensive bleeding. A computed tomographic angiography showed a huge pseudoaneurysm originating from the ECA. The patient was treated with surgery with ligation of the ECA and drainage of the pseudoaneurysm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular complications associated with condylar fractures are rare, but surgeons should be aware of this type of complication, especially because of the high risk of serious damage, including death. The use of computed tomographic angiography is very helpful in the diagnosis of vascular lesions and also guides treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University Center of Pará-CESUPA, Belém, Brazil. Electronic address: Ribeiroalr@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: André Luis
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ribeiro Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pará-UFPA, Belém, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walessa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brasil da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pará-UFPA, Belém, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio de Melo
authors.initials: Sde M
authors.lastname: Alves-Junior
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pará-UFPA, Belém, Brazil.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Jesus Viana Pinheiro
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002342:Carotid Artery, External; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed