Diffuse Axonal Injury Associated with Multiple Traumatic Aneurysms of the Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery

Abstract

A rare case of multiple traumatic aneurysms, arising from the distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA), associated with a diffuse axonal injury is presented. An 18-year-old male sustained a frontal impact injury in a traffic accident on February 19, 1988. He immediately lost consciousness and was transported to a local hospital where his Glasgow Coma Scale score was 6. A computed tomographic scan showed a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage extending from the corpus callosum to the left parietal lobe. With conservative treatment, he gradually regained consciousness and was referred to our hospital 12 days later. Skull x-rays revealed no fracture. A right common carotid angiogram revealed multiple aneurysmal dilatations on the right distal ACA. A left frontoparietal craniotomy was then performed to determine the nature of the aneurysmal dilatation, and to evacuate the intracerebral hematoma because his right hemiparesis persisted. Two aneurysmal dilatations on the distal ACA were tightly surrounded by clots and a hematoma extended from the corpus callosum to the parietal lobe. The ACA was trapped proximal and distal to the aneurysmal dilatations. The postoperative course was uneventful.