Two case presentations and surgical management of Bow Hunter's syndrome associated with bony abnormalities of the C7 vertebra

Abstract

Bow Hunter's syndrome is a condition in which patients experience vertebrobasilar symptoms on head turn. It may be a consequence of intrinsic factors such as atherosclerosis, or it may be secondary to mechanical compression. Most commonly, this occurs at the level of C2 or above. We present two rare cases of Bow Hunter's syndrome secondary to mechanical compression at the level of C7. Discussed are the anatomic conditions leading to this syndrome in these two patients, the methodology for confirming the diagnosis, and the successful management by partial resection of the transverse processes compressing the vertebral arteries.