Iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula of the superficial temporal artery

Introduction The temporal artery courses superficially over the temporal bone and thus can be vulnerable to trauma. Although traumatic lacerations of this vessel are indeed common, trauma-induced arteriovenous fistulae involving the temporal artery are relatively rare. Arteriovenous fistulae caused by iatrogenic injury to the temporal artery are rarer still.Discussion and conclusion We report a case of an ateriovenous fistula involving the superficial temporal artery which developed after surgical repair of trauma to the vessel following a blunt head injury. Ultimately, the lesion was successfully treated with complete excision.