Three cases of posterior circulation infarction related with cervical manipulation or trauma

Park, Key Chung; Yoon, Sang Soo; Park, Jung Hyuk; Chang, Dae Il; Kim, Eui Jong; Choi, Woo Suck; Chung, Kyung Cheon

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: Neck manipulation or trauma uncommonly be associated with serious and even fatal vascular complications. We presented the clinical and radiologic findings in 3 patients of brainstem and/or cerebellar infarct with basilar artery occlusion and extracranial vertebral artery stenosis or occlusion,. Cases : In the patient 1, the infarction of pons and lsft cerebellar hemisphere outbroke just after being seized by the collar. The angiographic findings were complete occlusion of basilar artery and left vertebral artery on C1 level and vertebrobasilar junctional occlusion of right vertebral artery. In the patient 2, extensive infarction of pons and left cerebellar hemisphere developed just after chiropractic manipulation of the neck. The angiographic findings were occlusions of left vertebral artery and distal portion of the basilar artery. In the patient 3, right cerebellar and medullary infarction of posteroinferior cerebellar artery territory occurred just after autobicycle accident. The angiographic finding was complete occlusion of left vertebral artery on C1 lever. They had not another risk factor of the stroke.
CONCLUSIONS
We experienced and presented 3 cases of posterior circulation infarctio with vertebrobasilar stenoocclusion just following cervical manipulation or neck trauma.