title: A unique case of penetrating neck and cervical spine trauma resulting in vertebral artery transection and internal carotid artery laceration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Describe the presentation and treatment of a patient who suffered a penetrating cervical trauma resulting in occlusion of the vertebral and internal carotid arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The electronic medical record was used to collect information pertaining to the patient's clinical history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 20-year-old male suffered a unique penetrating neck injury resulting in simultaneous injuries to the internal carotid and vertebral arteries as demonstrated by pre-operative angiography. Combined endovascular and open surgical approaches were utilized to successfully manage the vascular injuries prior to foreign body extraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complex penetrating cervical trauma is best managed with a multidisciplinary and multimodality approach. In appropriately selected patients, pre-operative angiography is a critical diagnostic modality that can prevent life-threatening hemorrhage following foreign body extraction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: marston.alexander@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Alexander P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marston
authors.affiliation: Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Monique M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Oldenburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Thom
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: driscoll.colin@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Colin L W
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Driscoll
mesh_terms: D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000293:injuries*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult