Related Experiment Videos
[Cervical myelopathy caused by bilateral vertebral artery compression]
T Nishiura1, K Fujiwara, A Handa
1Department of Neurosurgery, Iwakuni National Hospital, Japan.
No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery
|March 7, 1998
Summary
This case study details a rare cause of cervical myelopathy: bilateral anomalous vertebral arteries compressing the spinal cord. Surgical decompression successfully improved the patient's neurological symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Vascular Anatomy
Background:
- Cervical myelopathy can arise from various causes, including vascular compression.
- Anomalous vertebral artery anatomy is infrequently associated with neurological deficits.
Observation:
- A 49-year-old male presented with progressive right-sided hemiparesis, sensory disturbances, and occipitalgia.
- MRI revealed spinal cord compression at the atlas level, attributed to bilateral anomalous vertebral arteries forming vascular loops.
- Vertebral angiography confirmed the arteries piercing the dura and coursing within the vertebral canal, causing cord indentation.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with cervical cord compression due to bilateral anomalous vertebral arteries.
- Surgical decompression via suboccipital craniectomy and C1 laminectomy involved retracting the anomalous arteries.
- Postoperative improvement in neurological symptoms and spinal cord contour on MRI were observed.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare etiology of cervical myelopathy requiring neurosurgical intervention.
- Understanding anomalous vertebral artery anatomy is crucial for diagnosing and managing spinal cord compression syndromes.
- Surgical decompression offers a viable treatment option for symptomatic cord compression by aberrant vasculature.