Basal skull fracture with traumatic polycranial neuropathy and occluded left carotid artery: significance of fractures along the course of the carotid artery.

A patient who survived with traumatic multiple cranial nerve palsies and occluded internal carotid artery associated with a basal skull fracture that involved the carotid canal is described. A literature review indicates that a wide variety of injuries can occur to the carotid artery as it passes through a fractured skull base. Basal fractures involving the course of the carotid artery reflect a significant risk of carotid injury.