The Posttraumatic Occlusion of the Vertebral Artery

• Main Authors: Cornelia Tudorache, Adriana Moldovanu, Anda Esanu, E. Moldovanu, Carmen Gherman, C. Ichim, C. Popescu, M. Dabija, Danisia Haba
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Academic Publishing 2010-06-01
• Series: Romanian Neurosurgery
• Subjects: occlusion of the vertebral artery; computed tomography angiography
• Online Access: https://journals.lapub.co.uk/index.php/roneurosurgery/article/view/498

We investigate radiographic features of vertebral artery injury/occlusion associated with nonpenetrating cervical spine trauma and to demonstrate the importance of the CTA in high-risk cases. With the popularization of CTA (Computed Tomography Angiography) and MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography), vertebral artery injury has been a common complication of cervical spine trauma.  The occlusion of the vertebral artery secondary to non-penetrating trauma of the cervical spine (fractures and/dislocations) can be found in approximately 20% of the cases. Vertebral artery occlusion was rarely symptomatic because of sufficient collateral blood supply through not only contralateral vertebral artery but also the circle of Willis.