Table 2. Suggested screening criteria for blunt carotid injury by different institutions.

Screening criteria
	Denver group	Memphis group	Kerwin et al12
Signs/Symptoms	Arterial hemorrhage from neck/nose/mouth Cervical bruit in patient < 50 y old Expanding cervical hematoma Focal neurologic deficits: TIA, hemiparesis, vertebrobasilar symptoms, Horner syndrome Neurologic deficit inconsistent with head CT Stroke on CT or MRI	Neurologic exam not explained by brain imaging Horner syndrome	Massive epistaxis Neck hematoma Anisocoria Unexplained mono-/hemiparesis Unexplained neurologic exam by head CT Cerebrovascular accident or TIA
Risk factors	High energy transfer mechanism associated with: Displaced LeFort II or III Mandible fracture Complex skull fracture/basilar skull fracture/occipital condyle fracture CHI consistent with DAI and GCS < 6 Cervical subluxation or ligamentous injury, transverse foramen fracture, any body fracture, any fracture C1–3 Near hanging with anoxic brain injury Clothesline-type injury or seat belt abrasion with significant swelling, pain, or altered MS TBI with thoracic injuries Scalp degloving Thoracic vascular injuries Blunt cardiac rupture	LeFort II or III facial fractures Skull base fractures involving foramen lacerum Cervical spine fracture Neck soft tissue injury (e.g., seatbelt injury or hanging)	Massive facial fractures Basilar skull base fracture through or near carotid canal Foramen transversarum fracture Severe flexion or extension of cervical fracture

Abbreviations: CHI, closed head injury; CT, computed tomography; DAI, diffuse axonal injury; GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MS, mental status; TBI, traumatic brain injury; TIA, transient ischemic attack.

Source: Adapted from Miller et al, Kerwin et al, and Burlew et al.^{11 12 23}

Note: There is no unified consensus on the screening criteria, but there is a significant overlap of signs and risk factors between the groups.