J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2004 Jun;35(6):625-627.

Vertebral Artery Injury Following Blunt Trauma to the Cervical Spine Case Report and Literature Review

• Kim CH
• Cho KT
• Chung CK

Abstract

Vertebral artery injury may occur following blunt trauma to the cervical spine and can produce severe neurological deficit. We report upon two patients having vertebral artery injury following blunt trauma to the cervical spine. The first one developed a cerebellar infarct and the second cervical cord ischemia. The possibility of vertebral artery injury should be considered in patients with cervical spine injury, especially in those having a subluxation or fracture of the facet joint. Early signs of vertebral artery injury may be silent. Non-invasive techniques, such as magnetic resonance angiography should be utilized in such cases.

Keyword

Vertebral artery; Vascular injury; Blunt injury; Cervical spine; Magnetic resonance angiography

MeSH Terms

Humans
Ischemia
Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Spine*
Vascular System Injuries
Vertebral Artery*
Wounds, Nonpenetrating
Zygapophyseal Joint