Diagnosis and treatment of vertebral artery injury in cervical spine surgery / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate cause,diagnosis,treatment and prevention of vertebral artery injury in cervical spine surgery.Methods Data of 7 patients with vertebral artery injury caused by cervical spine surgery from October 2002 to April 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 6 males and 1 female,aged from 23 to 65 years (average,48.9 years).The reasons of cervical spine surgery were as followscervical spondylotic myelopathy (5 cases),traumatic subluxation of C4 and C5 (1 case),and cervical spinal stenosis due to skeletal fluorosis (1 case).All cases had unilateral vertebral artery injury,including 4 cases in the left side and 3 cases in the right side.The cause,treatment and prognosis of vertebral artery injury in 7 patients were analyzed.Results Four patients suffered from vertebral artery injury during anterior cervical spine surgery; 2 cases were caused by excessive lateral trepanation,1 by excessive lateral discectomy using a curette,and 1 by Kerrison punch during decompression in a patient with anomalous vertebral artery due to traumatic subluxation of C4 and C5.Three patients suffered from vertebral artery injury during posterior surgery; 2 cases were caused by a drill bit during drilling lateral mass of C4 and 1 by a rongeur during removing posterior C1 arch in a patient with cervical spinal stenosis due to skeletal fluorosis.After vertebral artery injury,all patients were immediately treated by hemostatic tamponade,and then the incisions were closed.However,1 patient occurred delayed cervical hemorrhage 4 weeks after operation.Then he underwent vertebral artery angiography,balloon embolization and evacuation of hematoma.All cases had no cerebral infarction.However,two of them had postoperative temporary dizziness.Conclusion Vertebral artery injury in cervical spine surgery is a rare but serious complication,which is associated with surgical mistakes and anatomical variations.Hemostatic tamponade and embolization are effective for this complication.