Vertebral Artery Dissection Following Cervical Spine Injury as a Diagnostic Challenge. Case Study

Abstract

Head and neck injuries are common and can be associated with cervical vessel injury. In some cases, the cor­rect diagnosis of artery dissection can be a real challenge given the nonspecific signs. We present the case of a spinal cord-injured patient with neurological sequelae and delayed posterior circu­la­tion stroke caused by bilateral vertebral artery dissection. The signs of cerebellar and occipital lobe ischemia were masked by manifestations of spinal cord injury. The patient was unconscious and in a serious condition, but, despite no proper stroke treatment, only residual dysarthria and upper limb ataxia were seen after reha­bilitation. Any clinical suspicion based on the combination of head or neck trauma with atypical or evolving neuro­logical symptoms should be verified for the possibility of a vertebral artery dissection.