Evaluation of Pediatric Lateral Oropharyngeal Trauma

Thrombosis secondary to penetration of internal carotid artery due to soft palate impalement injury: A case report of hemiplegic syndrome and literature review

Intraoral injuries are frequently encountered in emergency departments due to children's desire and curiosity to put objects in their mouths. However, forward falls with objects in children's mouths can cause impalement injuries to soft palate, retropharyngeal-peritonsillar, and retromolar tissues, leading to serious morbidity and even mortality. These transoral (soft palate, pharynx-tonsil, retromolar region) penetration injuries can especially result in damage to major vascular structures like the Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) due to their close proximity. Dissection, thrombosis, and subsequent stroke can occur in the delicate ICA as a result. In the presented case, a 3-year-old male child experienced internal carotid artery dissection following penetrating injury with a pen, as demonstrated by imaging studies. A literature review is provided along with the case of this child, who developed a reduction in middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow due to thrombosis in the ICA. The study encompasses all penetrating oropharyngeal traumas reported in individuals aged 0-18 years from 1936 to 2023. A search in PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords such as 'internal carotid artery injury,' 'penetrating trauma,' and 'children' yielded 78 case reports from a pool of 36,000 studies. The analysis excludes injuries in areas like tongue, cheek, gums, lips, and floor of the mouth, post-tonsillectomy injuries, and those from sudden braking vehicles. This review encompasses the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of penetrating injuries to the soft palate, pharyngeal wall, tonsil, and retromolar regions.

The Utility of CTA in Pediatric Oropharyngeal Trauma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE(S)

To analyze the utility of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in identifying internal carotid artery (ICA) injury and reducing cerebrovascular accident (CVA) incidence in children presenting with normal neurologic exams after oropharyngeal trauma (OT).

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following PRISMA guidelines. Of 1,185 studies screened, 95 studies of pediatric OT met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of proportions was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 1224 children with OT were analyzed. Excluding case reports, the weighted proportion of a CVA after OT was 0.31% (95% CI 0.06-0.93). If a child presented without neurologic deficits, 0.30% (95% CI 0.05-0.95) returned with new neurologic deficits. An ICA injury was identified in 0.89% (95% CI 0.16-2.74) of screening CTAs. No difference in CVA incidence was seen in children with screening CTA (0.52% [95% CI 0.02-2.15]) compared to children without screening CTA (0.42% [95% CI 0.06-1.37]). Patients who developed CVA had a higher proportion of injuries >2 cm, injuries at the posterior pillar or tonsil, and injuries with a writing utensil or popsicle stick compared to patients without CVA.

CONCLUSION

The proportion of children experiencing an ICA injury leading to CVA after sustaining OT is low. CTAs infrequently show ICA changes in children with normal neurological exams. Children who receive CTAs do not have a significantly lower incidence of CVAs than children who do not receive CTAs. Clinicians should weigh the risks and benefits of a CTA based on an individual child's presentation and discuss this with caregivers for shared decision-making. Laryngoscope, 133:25-37, 2023.