Key result
Home cervical traction device use linked to internal carotid artery dissection and pseudoaneurysm.
Why the study?
Internal carotid artery dissection is a time-sensitive vascular emergency triggered by mechanical stress to the cervical vasculature that may present with subtle findings such as painful Horner syndrome.
Case Report (n=1)
No
This case report highlights home cervical traction device use as a potential mechanical trigger for internal carotid artery dissection presenting as painful Horner syndrome, underscoring the need for urgent vascular imaging and targeted history-taking.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Home cervical traction may trigger carotid dissection with painful Horner syndrome; this case leaves causal risk and incidence open for study.
Introduction: Internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection is a time-sensitive vascular emergency that may present with subtle findings, most notably painful Horner syndrome. Mechanical stress to the cervical vasculature is a recognized trigger for this condition. Case Report: We report a 56-year-old man who developed ipsilateral ptosis, miosis, and head and neck pain after using a home cervical traction device. Computed tomography angiography showed focal critical stenosis of the distal cervical left ICA consistent with dissection, along with a contralateral pseudoaneurysm suggesting prior injury. He was treated with dual antiplatelet therapy. Conclusion: This case highlights a potential association between cervical traction device use and carotid dissection and underscores the importance of recognizing painful Horner syndrome and bilateral carotid pathology, while prompting clinicians to specifically inquire about traction device use.
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Samadian et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Internal carotid artery dissection and painful Horner syndrome (n=1). Home cervical traction device was evaluated on Internal carotid artery dissection and pseudoaneurysm. Home cervical traction device use preceded a left internal carotid artery dissection and painful Horner syndrome alongside a 0.9-cm contralateral pseudoaneurysm in a 56-year-old man.
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