TY - JOUR T1 - Arteriovenous fistula of the superficial temporal artery: an exceptional complication of the pterional approach JF - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry JO - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry SP - 1077 LP - 1078 DO - 10.1136/jnnp.2003.019489 VL - 75 IS - 7 AU - S F A Amlashi AU - L Riffaud AU - X Morandi Y1 - 2004/07/01 UR - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/75/7/1077.2.abstract N2 - Despite the widespread use of the pterional approach in neurosurgical procedures, complications due to iatrogenic injuries of the superficial temporal artery (STA) are extremely rare. Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the STA have been reported as a complication of craniotomy,1 secondary to placement of external ventricular drainage catheters2 or of a pin type headholder device.3 Reported cases of iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula of the STA have occurred after hair transplantation4 and after temporomandibular arthroscopy.5 We report a case of iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula of the STA after pterional craniotomy. To the best of our knowledge, such a complication of craniotomy has not been reported before. A 53 year old man was initially referred to our department with a grade 3 WFNS (World … ER -