Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion and Death Secondary to Bilateral Vertebral Artery Dissection

Vertebral artery dissection as a cause of basilar artery thrombosis is an exceedingly rare event that is associated with significant morbidity and poor outcomes. We present an unusual case of bilateral vertebral artery dissection and spinal cord compression in a 21-year-old male involved in a diving accident. The patient received limited antithrombotic therapy in pursuit of surgical spinal decompression, ultimately contributing to thrombosis of the basilar artery in the post-operative period and death following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Our goal is to highlight the severity of vertebral artery injury and the critical importance of treatment in the prevention of associated sequelae.