Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula at the anterior ascending segment of the internal carotid artery in a pediatric patient

Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) in children is a rare condition. Early diagnosis and treatment is still a challenge, and it is associated with good neurological recovery. We present a rare case of a 10-year-old boy with mild head trauma, who developed a CCF at the anterior segment of the ascending internal carotid artery. The patient was treated with endovascular coil embolization and evolved with a favorable outcome. Most of reports in the literature address the traumatic CCF in adult patients, in which early treatment may prevent poor recovery or fatal outcomes. The diagnosis and management of this condition are discussed based on a literature review. It is important to keep a high degree of suspicion for CCF, especially in traumatic head injury associated with skull base fracture, since the early diagnosis and treatment may prevent potentially permanent neurological deficits.