Occult traumatic dissection of vertebral artery with an excellent outcome

Br J Neurosurg. 2004 Aug;18(4):389-91. doi: 10.1080/02688690400005222.

Abstract

We present the case of a young male with severe head injury, cervico-thoracic fractures, and an initially unrecognized brainstem infarct due to unilateral dissection of vertebral artery, who made an unusually excellent recovery. This report stresses the importance of prompt clinico-imaging diagnosis and prophylactic anticoagulant treatment in such cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic*
  • Adult
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Brain Stem Infarctions / diagnosis*
  • Brain Stem Infarctions / drug therapy
  • Brain Stem Infarctions / etiology
  • Cervical Vertebrae / injuries
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / etiology*
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Motorcycles
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / injuries
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vertebral Artery Dissection / diagnosis*
  • Vertebral Artery Dissection / etiology
  • Warfarin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Warfarin