Vertebral Artery Dissection Quiz
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Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency department)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
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Learn more about Vertebral artery dissection
Content updated on Sep 20, 2022
What is vertebral artery dissection?
The vertebral artery is located in the neck and supplies blood to the brain. A vertebral artery dissection is when there is a tear in the inner lining of your vertebral artery, resulting in a disruption of blood flow to your brain and causing a stroke. This can happen most commonly due to a blunt force to your neck.
Symptoms of vertebral artery dissection
Unable to move my face
I feel like I'm spinning around / vertigo
Eyeballs cannot move properly, and cannot look in a certain direction
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Difficulty pronouncing words
Sensation of imbalance as if floating when at sea
Questions your doctor may ask to check for vertebral artery dissection
Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose vertebral artery dissection
Do you have difficulty controlling the muscles of your face?
Do you feel like your surroundings are spinning around?
Do you have problems moving your eyes in a specific direction?
Do you have nausea or vomiting?
Do you have headaches or does your head feel heavy?
Treatment for vertebral artery dissection
They usually heal by themselves and the prognosis is good. Treatment is aimed at reducing the risk of future stroke by taking blood thinners and anticoagulants.
View the symptoms of Vertebral artery dissection
Diseases related to Vertebral artery dissection
References
Saw AE, McIntosh AS, Kountouris A. Vertebral artery dissection in sport: Expert opinion of mechanisms and risk-reduction strategies. J Clin Neurosci. 2019 Oct;68:28-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.07.016. Epub 2019 Aug 6. PMID: 31399319.
https://www.jocn-journal.com/article/S0967-5868(19)30151-1/fulltext
Braga BP, Sillero R, Pereira RM, Urgun K, Swift DM, Rollins NK, Hogge AJ, Dowling MM. Dynamic compression in vertebral artery dissection in children: apropos of a new protocol. Childs Nerv Syst. 2021 Apr;37(4):1285-1293. doi: 10.1007/s00381-020-04956-1. Epub 2020 Nov 6. PMID: 33155060.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00381-020-04956-1
Harada T, Harada Y, Shimizu T. Vertebral Artery Dissection after Exposure to Levofloxacin: A Report of Two Cases. Intern Med. 2021 Sep 1;60(17):2863-2865. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.6736-20. Epub 2021 Mar 22. PMID: 33746163; PMCID: PMC8479225.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/internalmedicine/60/17/60_6736-20/_article
Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency department)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
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Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan