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Resolution of traumatic vertebral artery dissection and occlusion after repositioning and posterior C1-ring osteosynthesis of a displaced Jefferson burst fracture

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Abstract

A 70-year-old male sustained a Jefferson burst fracture with unilateral vertebral artery dissection and occlusion by displaced fragments. We performed reduction and posterior C1-ring osteosynthesis. We present a description of the intraoperative manual assessment of atlantoaxial stability. The vertebral artery was found with a good anterograde flow posteroperatively, and MRA showed reperfusion of the vessel. The patient was free of pain with preserved C1–C2 rotation after 6 weeks. Function-preserving posterior C1-ring osteosynthesis after reduction in a displaced Jefferson burst fracture complicated by vertebral artery dissection and occlusion may restore blood flow.

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Correspondence to Andy Ottenbacher.

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Ottenbacher, A., Bettag, M. Resolution of traumatic vertebral artery dissection and occlusion after repositioning and posterior C1-ring osteosynthesis of a displaced Jefferson burst fracture. Acta Neurochir 159, 1561–1564 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3241-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3241-x

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