[Post-traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula]

The authors report three cases of carotid-cavernous fistula occurring after severe cranio facial trauma. The diagnosis has been suspected on the association of a pulsatil exophtalmia and systolo-diastolic murmur, and confirmed by arteriography. Embolization was successful in two patients, the third one died from neurologic complication before embolization. The carotid cavernous fistula is a rare but severe complication of a craniofacial trauma. The functional (blindness) and vital prognosis (subarachnoid and intracerebral haemorrage). Treatment by interventional neuroadiology has considerably improved the outcome.