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Case Reports
. 2024 Jan 9;17(1):e255923.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2023-255923.

Vertebral Artery Dissection

Ivan Ivanov  1 , Michael Cataldo  2 , Alyssa Cocchiara  2 , Rosalee Nguyen  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Vertebral Artery Dissection

Ivan Ivanov et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Vertebral artery dissections are a rare pathology that carries a high risk of stroke in a younger population. They may be caused by minor mechanisms and the index of suspicion should be high. Treatment with anticoagulation or antiplatelets should follow if no surgical management is indicated.We describe a case of a female in her 30s who fell backward off a swing and rolled over her head and complained of continued posterior neck pain. The patient was found to have a vertebral artery dissection on MRI. The patient was then anticoagulated with high-dose apixaban and low-dose aspirin.The emergency medicine provider should be aware of possible low-impact mechanisms that can cause vertebral artery dissection and should have a high index of suspicion. If surgical management is not indicated, anticoagulation should be initiated.

Keywords: neuroimaging; orthopaedic and trauma surgery; trauma; trauma CNS /PNS; vascular surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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