Table 3 The expanded Denver screening criteria for BCVI. CT angiography is indicated if one or more of the criteria are present
From: Best practice guidelines for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI)
Signs/symptoms of BCVI | |
 Arterial hemorrhage from neck/nose/mouth | |
 Cervical bruit in patients < 50 years | |
 Expanding cervical hematoma | |
 Focal neurological deficit | |
 Neurological exam incongruous with head CT findings | |
 Stroke on secondary CT scan | |
Risk factors for BVCI (High-energy transfer mechanism with): | |
 Le Fort II or III | |
 Mandible fracture | |
 Complex skull fracture/basilar skull fracture/occipital condyle fracture | |
 Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with GCS < 6 | |
 Cervical spine fracture, subluxation or ligamentous injury at any level | |
 Near hanging with anoxic brain injury | |
 Seat belt abrasion with significant swelling, pain or altered mental status | |
 TBI with thoracic injury | |
 Scalp degloving | |
 Thoracic vascular injury | |
 Blunt cardiac rupture | |
 Upper rib fracture |