Abstract
BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic vertebral artery (VA) injury is a rare but potentially devastating complication associated with cervical and craniocervical surgery. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate treatment modalities and outcomes associated with iatrogenic VA injury. METHODS: Our institutional surgical database was queried for patients who underwent cervical or craniocervical surgery from January 1997 to August 2012. RESULTS: During this time period, 8213 patients underwent cervical or craniocervical surgery, and 17 (0.2%) cases of VA injury were identified. Eight (47%) of these injuries occurred during C1-2 instrumentation procedures. Primary microsurgical repair of the VA was performed in 5 patients. Other cases were managed by either surgical or endovascular VA occlusion. Of the 17 patients, 15 underwent immediate angiography, 9 of whom were ultimately treated by the use of endovascular techniques. CONCLUSION: VA injury is an uncommon complication of cervical and/or skull base surgery. Standardized management recommendations may help reduce complications associated with these rare but potentially devastating injuries.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | ons271-ons281 |
Journal | Neurosurgery |
Volume | 73 |
Issue number | SUPPL. 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cervical
- Complications
- Craniocervical
- Endovascular pseudoaneurysm
- Iatrogenic injury
- Vertebral artery
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Clinical Neurology