Strokes in children due to vertebral artery trauma

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Published on: December 31, 2017

B P Garg1, C J Ottinger, R R Smith

  • 1Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.

Neurology
|December 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Vertebral artery lesions causing stroke are rare in children, predominantly affecting boys. Traumatic lesions at C1-2 are common, with good recovery prospects, suggesting consideration for posterior circulation ischemia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Vascular Neurology
  • Neurotrauma

Background:

  • Strokes in children are uncommon, and those attributed to vertebral artery lesions are particularly rare.
  • Understanding the etiology and outcomes of pediatric vertebral artery lesions is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Observation:

  • This study reviews three new pediatric cases of stroke secondary to vertebral artery lesions.
  • These cases are analyzed alongside 16 previously reported cases from the literature.
  • A notable observation is that all affected patients in the combined cohort are male.

Findings:

  • Traumatic vertebral artery lesions, specifically at the C1-2 level, were identified as the most frequent cause of stroke in this pediatric cohort.
  • The overall prognosis for neurological recovery in these young patients was found to be favorable.
  • Posterior circulation ischemia in boys should prompt consideration of vertebral artery disease.

Implications:

  • The findings suggest that vertebral artery dissection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of posterior circulation stroke in male children.
  • Early recognition and appropriate management of traumatic vertebral artery lesions may improve neurological outcomes.
  • Further research into the specific mechanisms and risk factors for vertebral artery lesions in pediatric males is warranted.

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