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Updated: May 28, 2026
08:22
Permanent Cerebral Vessel Occlusion via Double Ligature and Transection
Published on: July 21, 2013
Cervical artery dissection following a turbulent flight.
Colin Quinn1, John Cooke, Margaret O'Connor
1Clinical Age Assessment Unit, Department of Medicine, Division of Ageing and Therapeutics, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, Ireland. colinjmquinn@yahoo.com
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|October 4, 2011
Summary
Repetitive neck movements during a flight may cause internal carotid artery dissection in young adults, even without typical vascular risk factors. This case highlights a potential trigger for cervical artery dissection.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Cervical artery dissection (CAD) is a leading cause of stroke in young individuals.
- It commonly affects the carotid or vertebral arteries, often in patients without traditional vascular risk factors.
- Genetic predispositions increase spontaneous dissection risk, while trauma or neck movements can precipitate events.
Observation:
- A previously healthy young woman with a history of migraines experienced internal carotid artery dissection.
- The dissection occurred after a turbulent short-haul flight, during which she was restrained by a seatbelt.
- The flight involved significant head and neck movements.
Findings:
- Repetitive neck flexion-extension movements during the flight are proposed as the likely cause of the internal carotid artery dissection.
- This case suggests that seemingly minor events like air travel can trigger CAD.
Implications:
- Highlights a novel potential trigger for cervical artery dissection in young adults.
- Suggests considering flight-associated neck movements in the differential diagnosis of unexplained stroke in young patients.
- Underscores the importance of understanding biomechanical forces in cervical artery dissection etiology.
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