Subcutaneous stretching enlarges adjacent vertebral artery instantly in patients with cervicogenic dizziness: Two case reports

Abstract

Rationale: Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) is effective for cervicogenic dizziness (CGD), which is often a result of vascular problems. Here, we attribute the positive treatment effect of FSN for CGD to improvements in vascular problems. Patient concern: Two patients were experiencing low quality of life due to reproducible dizziness. Diagnosis: Two patients with cervical spine disorder, presented with neck pain and reproducible dizziness. Other causes of dizziness were excluded. Interventions: Case 1 received 1 session of FSN treatment, while case 2 received 3 sessions of FSN treatment in a month. Outcomes: The dizziness and neck pain experienced by both patients instantly improved significantly after FSN treatment, and the luminal diameter of the vertebral artery (VA) measured by carotid and VA ultrasound enlarged simultaneously up to 1.29-fold and 1.09-fold for both cases. According to the Hagen–Poiseuille equation, the blood flow volume increased 2.77-fold and 1.43-fold, respectively. Case 2 recovered from CGD with 1.19-fold VA luminal diameter increment and about 2.01-fold increase of blood flow volume in a month. Lessons: Subcutaneous stretching provides a safe, convenient and immediate solution to CGD, and supports the diagnosis and treatment of CGD under carotid and VA ultrasound. This study suggests that stretching subcutaneously can influence adjacent VA, which may also help improve some cerebrovascular diseases.