Korean J Spine.  2015 Jun;12(2):79-83. 10.14245/kjs.2015.12.2.79.

Delayed Vertebral Artery Dissection after Posterior Cervical Fusion with Traumatic Cervical Instability: A Case Report

• Oh CH
• Ji GY
• Yoon SH
• Hyun D
• Kim EY
• Park H
• Jang AR

• KMID: 1927563
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2015.12.2.79

Abstract

Vascular injury presented immediately after the penetration, but delayed onset of vascular symptom caused by an embolism or vessel dissection after cervical fusion or traumatic event is extremely rare. We present a case of a 56-year-old woman who underwent an operation for cervical fusion for type II Odontoid process fracture. She presented symptoms of seizure with hemiparesis in 6 days after the operation. Multifocal acute infarction due to an embolism from the left VA (V3 segment) dissection was observed without a definite screw breach the transverse foramen. We hereby reported the instructive case report of delayed onset of vertebral artery dissection after posterior cervical fusion with type II odontoid process fracture patient. When a cervical operation performed in the cervical trauma patient, even if no apparent VA injury occurs before and during the operation, the surgeon must take caution not to risk cerebral infarction because of the delayed VA dissection.

Keyword

Cervical trauma; Cervical fusion; Cerebral infarction; Vertebral artery dissection; Embolism

MeSH Terms

Cerebral Infarction
Embolism
Female
Humans
Infarction
Middle Aged
Odontoid Process
Paresis
Seizures
Vascular System Injuries
Vertebral Artery Dissection*