What is a likely diagnosis for a child presenting with right-sided hemiplegia after a fall?

In this scenario, the diagnosis of carotid artery dissection is particularly plausible due to the acute onset of right-sided hemiplegia following a traumatic event, such as a fall. Carotid artery dissection can occur as a result of neck trauma, leading to a disruption of the arterial wall, which can compromise blood flow to the brain and subsequently result in an ischemic stroke affecting one side of the body.

This condition is notable in pediatric patients who experience traumatic injuries, and the neurological consequences, such as hemiplegia, manifest quickly after the incident. The presentation aligns well with the expected clinical course for a patient with a carotid artery dissection.

While other conditions like hemorrhagic stroke might also lead to sudden neurological deficits, the fall and resultant right-sided hemiplegia strongly suggest a vascular event linked to neck trauma. Cerebral palsy is typically a diagnosis associated with non-progressive motor impairment stemming from brain injury that occurs during early development, rather than a sudden change following trauma. Similarly, multiple sclerosis presents differently, with symptoms that are more chronic and often episodic rather than acute following an injury. Therefore, the clinical context provided supports the diagnosis of carotid artery dissection as the most likely explanation for