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Traumatic Cervical Vertebral Artery Transection Associated with a Dural Tear Leading to Subarachnoid Extravasation

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Abstract

Vertebral artery injuries can be seen following trauma. Most traumatic vertebral artery injuries are limited to an intimal dissection. Rarely, transection of the vertebral artery can be seen with extravasation of hemorrhage into the surrounding soft tissues of the neck. Dural tears are rare in the setting of trauma. They are usually the result of penetrating trauma or severe blunt trauma. We present a case with both a vertebral artery transection and a dural tear. The combination of these lethal injuries resulted in extravasation of hemorrhage into the soft tissues of the neck, through the dural tear, and into the subarachnoid space of the cervical spine. The subarachnoid hemorrhage extended superiorly into the brain. The diagnosis was made by computed tomography (CT) and computed tomography angiography (CTA). The treatment of traumatic vertebral artery transections and dural tears are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Mark O. Baerlocher, Richard I. Aviv & Sean P. Symons BASc, MPH, MD, FRCPC, DABR

  2. Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Tanya L. Zakrison & Homer Tien

  3. Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue AG31D, Toronto, ON, Canada, M4N 3M5

    Sean P. Symons BASc, MPH, MD, FRCPC, DABR

Authors
  1. Mark O. Baerlocher
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  2. Tanya L. Zakrison
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  3. Homer Tien
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  4. Richard I. Aviv
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  5. Sean P. Symons BASc, MPH, MD, FRCPC, DABR
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Correspondence to Sean P. Symons BASc, MPH, MD, FRCPC, DABR.

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Baerlocher, M.O., Zakrison, T.L., Tien, H. et al. Traumatic Cervical Vertebral Artery Transection Associated with a Dural Tear Leading to Subarachnoid Extravasation. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 35, 67–70 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-008-7184-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-008-7184-z

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