Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of superficial temporal artery

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery: a case report

“…A trauma causes a break in the arterial wall and blood extravasates from it and subsequently hematoma forms. When the artery is injured, a weak preivascular organized fibrous capsule is formed around the hematoma, giving it a painless pulsatile property (5). STAP may be asymptomatic but possible symptoms include headache, ear discomfort, visual disturbance, dizziness, hemorrhage, cosmetic defects and neurologic deficits (4).…”

Treatment of temporal artery pseudoaneurysms

“…16 Reconstruction of the superficial temporal artery after the surgical procedure is not required because of the rich collateral facial blood supply. 17,18 The procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia. Disadvantages of surgery include scarring and facial palsy.…”

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery

“…Only 200 to 400 cases have been reported in the literature since Thomas Bartholin's first description in 1740 1,2 . They account for less than 1% of all traumatic aneurysms diagnosed 3,4 …”

“…Blunt or penetrating trauma is responsible for 95% of STA pseudoaneurysms 5 . Almost all remaining cases can be attributed to medical procedures, such as neurosurgical operations, punch grafting for hair transplantation and even following Botox injections 3,6 . Less than 20 cases of spontaneous true STA aneurysms have ever been reported, which are thought to be caused by atheromatous disease or congenital defects of the arterial elastic membrane 7,8 …”

“…The anterior branch is by far the most commonly affected. A muscular gap exists between the bellies of frontalis and temporalis where the anterior branch of the STA passes over the prominent superior temporal line, leaving the artery vulnerable to compression against this bony ridge 3,5–7,9 . Not surprisingly, the pathology of most STA aneurysms is that of a pseudoaneurysm.…”