Traumatic facial arteriovenous fistula: a rare case report and literature review
Dublin Core
Title
Traumatic facial arteriovenous fistula: a rare case report and literature review
Subject
Facial arteries, Facial vein, Arteriovenous fistula (AVF), Embolization
Description
Abstract
The formation of facial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) directly between the facial artery and vein after trauma is very
rare. Compared with intracranial AVF, understanding of this condition is limited. This paper reported the case of
a 49-year-old male who had a metallic foreign object impaled on his left neck while weeding 6 months prior to
admission. However, 3 months prior to admission, he developed a gradual throbbing of the left neck and swelling
on the left side of his face. Auscultation revealed a vascular murmur in front of the mandibular angle on the left
side of the face. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed an AVF between the left lateral facial artery and
vein, resulting in retrograde blood flow into cavernous sinus though the ophthalmic vein. The authors discuss the
management of a traumatic AVF through combined transarterial embolization using coils and Onyx liquid embolic
agent. A 3-month follow-up indicated no recurrence of AVF, and the patient had a great recovery with normal-
appearing left face and eye. It was the isolated involvement of the facial artery and vein in a post-traumatic setting
makes this case particularly instructive. In addition, we summarized the clinical symptoms and treatment of AVF in
the face and neck regions.
Keywords Facial arteries, Facial vein, Arteriovenous fistula (AVF), Embolization
The formation of facial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) directly between the facial artery and vein after trauma is very
rare. Compared with intracranial AVF, understanding of this condition is limited. This paper reported the case of
a 49-year-old male who had a metallic foreign object impaled on his left neck while weeding 6 months prior to
admission. However, 3 months prior to admission, he developed a gradual throbbing of the left neck and swelling
on the left side of his face. Auscultation revealed a vascular murmur in front of the mandibular angle on the left
side of the face. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed an AVF between the left lateral facial artery and
vein, resulting in retrograde blood flow into cavernous sinus though the ophthalmic vein. The authors discuss the
management of a traumatic AVF through combined transarterial embolization using coils and Onyx liquid embolic
agent. A 3-month follow-up indicated no recurrence of AVF, and the patient had a great recovery with normal-
appearing left face and eye. It was the isolated involvement of the facial artery and vein in a post-traumatic setting
makes this case particularly instructive. In addition, we summarized the clinical symptoms and treatment of AVF in
the face and neck regions.
Keywords Facial arteries, Facial vein, Arteriovenous fistula (AVF), Embolization
Creator
Hongwei Gao1,3, Donglin Zhou2
, You Zhou1,3, Xuechao Wu1,3, Jing Wang1,3 and Qing Wang1,3,4*
, You Zhou1,3, Xuechao Wu1,3, Jing Wang1,3 and Qing Wang1,3,4*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00864-w
Date
2025
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Hongwei Gao1,3, Donglin Zhou2
, You Zhou1,3, Xuechao Wu1,3, Jing Wang1,3 and Qing Wang1,3,4*, “Traumatic facial arteriovenous fistula: a rare case report and literature review,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12734.