Traumatic aneurysms of the superficial temporal artery - Case report

Most traumatic aneurysms of the superficial temporal artery (STA) are secondary to a blunt trauma and are seen within 2-6 weeks after injury. Eighty percent of all cases occur in males. All victims in our series are males and most (5/6) are young men. All aneurysms in our cases are pulsatile and sixty-seven percent (4/6) are non-tender. The size of aneurysms varies from 0.5 cm to 3 cm in diameter. All aneurysms, are seen within 5 weeks after injury and are false aneurysms. Most aneurysms (5/6) are located at the right temporal region (preauricular branch of STA), except one at the right frontal branch. The incidence of the STA aneurysm caused b motorcycle accidents in our cases is hi her (33%)than that of the Western countries, due to the fact that motorcycles are a popular form of transportation and many riders do not wear helmets. Eighty percent (4/5) aneurysms can be excised under local anesthesia, except in a child (case 5). Only one patient (case 5) heeds a second operation due to a subsequent coagulopathy. Sixty-seven percent (4/6) aneurysms occur in intensive exercises and vehicle racing without a helmet. So we suggested that it should be compulsory for riders to wear a helmet. We present 5 male cases of STA aneurysm caused by various types of trauma and one iatrogenic STA aneurysm. To the best of our knowledge, cases 5 and 6 are the first reportS of this kind in the literature.