Title

Injury of an aberrant vertebral artery during a routine corpectomy: a case report and literature review

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation

Publication Date

2009-03-25

Document Type

Article

Subjects

Cerebral Angiography; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cervical Vertebrae; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Intraoperative Complications; Lateral Medullary Syndrome; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Intraoperative; Neurosurgical Procedures; Postoperative Hemorrhage; Preoperative Care; Rhombencephalon; Spinal Cord Compression; Spondylosis; Vertebral Artery

Disciplines

Orthopedics | Rehabilitation and Therapy

Abstract

CASE REPORT: A case report of a 58-year-old man who sustained a laceration of his left vertebral artery during a routine corpectomy for cervical myelopathy is reported.

OBJECTIVE: To report iatrogenic injury of a tortuous vertebral artery during anterior cervical spine surgery and discuss appropriate diagnosis and treatment options for this complication.

SETTING: UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA.

BACKGROUND DATA: Vertebral artery anomalies, although rare, are typically present with degenerative processes and great care must be taken to avoid damage during a corpectomy. Cross-sectional imaging coupled with intraoperative angiography is helpful for the urgent evaluation of the injury site and identification of the contralateral vertebral artery's status.

METHODS: This is a single case of a patient sustaining a laceration of the left vertebral artery during surgery, which resulted in a lateral medullary stroke.

RESULTS: After the left vertebral artery laceration, hemostasis was achieved. With the intent to better visualize and possibly embolize or stent the injury, an angiographic study was carried out. The angiogram revealed a laceration of the left vertebral artery within the vertebral foramina at vertebral body level C6, but intact distal flow. The patient underwent angiographic embolization and a subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a left lateral medullary stroke consistent with the lack of flow through the left vertebral artery from C6 to the basilar artery.

CONCLUSION: If a tortuous vertebral artery is suspected, then meticulous review of preoperative cross-sectional imaging should be implemented along with angiographic examination. If anomalies are detected and the standard procedure cannot be safely carried out, then alterations, such as preoperative stent placement, need to be considered.

DOI of Published Version

10.1038/sc.2009.29

Source

Spinal Cord. 2009 Oct;47(10):773-5. Epub 2009 Mar 24. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Spinal cord : the official journal of the International Medical Society of Paraplegia

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

19308072

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