Penetrating Injuries of the Parapharyngeal Space

Lacerations of the palate are common in children, who tend to hold pointed objects in their mouth. Uneventful healing occurs in the great majority, but on rare occasions grave consequences develop. In two children observed during the past year thrombosis of the internal carotid artery supervened. One child died; the autopsy findings are described. The second child probably developed a localized mural thrombus of the internal carotid artery and survived following extraction of an unusual foreign body.