A case of young stroke, caused by internal carotid artery dissection following trivial trauma

Dissection of the carotid artery in the neck is a relatively common condition. Mostdissections are spontaneous, related to activities that cause sudden stretch of the pharyngeal portionof the carotid artery. Usually patients have neck pain, Horner's syndrome, and tinnitus. Few otherspresent with transient or persistent brain ischemia. Strokes are due to the embolization of thrombusmaterial from the lumen of the dissected artery to the intracranial arteries, most often the middlecerebral artery. Standard anticoagulants in the form of heparin followed by warfarin are effective inpreventing further artery-to-artery emboli.We would like to bring this case of carotid dissection, to thenotice of our fraternity, presenting as young stroke.