"Crick" in Neck Followed by Massage Led to Stroke: Uncommon Case of Vertebral Artery Dissection

Axillary massage induced lateral thoracic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture: Case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Massage is a form of health care, but incorrect techniques can potentially harm the human body (Qin et al., 2023 [1]). While there have been no reported cases of lateral thoracic artery pseudoaneurysm and rupture induced by axillary massage, it is important to further explore how to address and prevent such potential risks.

CASE PRESENTATION

This case study highlights a rare occurrence where a 61-year-old female patient experienced a lateral thoracic artery pseudoaneurysm and ruptured as a result of an axillary massage. The patient, self-taught in Chinese medicine and massage, regularly rubbed the Jiquan points in her armpits to promote heart health, with each session lasting 30-60 min for two years. She presented with symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, left armpit pain, and oedema, leading to her admission to a nearby hospital. Despite receiving blood transfusions, her symptoms did not improve, necessitating her to refer to our hospital. A CT angiography scan of her upper limb arteries revealed the presence of a left lateral thoracic artery pseudoaneurysm and rupture, resulting in subcutaneous hematoma in the left axilla, chest, and back. Following angiography, successful embolisation was performed. Three months after surgery, the patient regained full mobility and was free from pain in her left upper limb.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

The armpit region contains a high concentration of nerves and blood vessels, making it crucial to have a thorough understanding of its anatomy and to use precise massage techniques. Damage to the axillary arteries can result in severe complications, which can be addressed through either open or endovascular interventional procedures. This article reviews existing literature and guides in managing these specific scenarios.

CONCLUSION

Caution should be exercised when performing an armpit massage, as a thorough understanding of the anatomy of the axillary area is crucial. Injury to the lateral thoracic artery is a potential risk during axillary massage, and in such cases, endovascular intervention may be considered.

Fatal Vertebral Artery Dissection Following Self-Manipulation of the Cervical Spine

ABSTRACT

Cervical spine manipulation is a known risk factor for vertebral artery dissection. In this report, we present a case of fatal vertebral artery dissection that occurred as the result of self-manipulation of the cervical spine. The decedent was a 40-year-old man with no significant past medical history. He was observed to "crack his neck" while at work. Soon after, he began experiencing neck pain, then developed strokelike symptoms and became unresponsive. He was transported to a local medical center, where imaging showed bilateral vertebral artery dissection. His neurological status continued to decline, and brain death was pronounced several days later. An autopsy examination showed evidence of cerebellar and brainstem infarcts, herniation, and diffuse hypoxic-ischemic injury. A posterior neck dissection was performed to expose the vertebral arteries, which showed grossly visible hemorrhage and dilation. There was no evidence of traumatic injury to the bone or soft tissue of the head or neck. Bilateral dissection tracts were readily appreciated on microscopic examination. Death was attributed to self-manipulation of the neck, which in turn led to bilateral vertebral artery dissection, cerebellar and brainstem infarcts, herniation, hypoxic-ischemic injury, and ultimately brain death.

Intracranial large artery embolism due to carotid thrombosis caused by a neck massager: A case report

BACKGROUND

There are few reported cases of intracranial large artery embolism due to carotid thrombosis caused by a neck massager. Herein we report such a case.

CASE SUMMARY

A 49-year-old woman presented with left limb weakness and dysarthria after a history of neck massage for 1 mo. Neurological examination showed left central facial paralysis and left hemiparesis with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 12. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging in the right parietal and temporal lobes. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) indicated M3 segment embolism of the right middle cerebral artery. Neck CTA revealed thrombosis of the bilateral common carotid arteries. Carotid ultrasound showed thrombosis in the bilateral common carotid arteries (approximately 2 cm below the proximal end of the carotid sinus), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound did not suggest enhancement. No hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, vasculitis, or thrombophilia was found after admission. After 1 wk of treatment with aspirin 200 mg and atorvastatin 40 mg, a carotid ultrasound reexamination showed that the thrombosis had significantly reduced.

CONCLUSION

Neck massager may cause carotid artery thrombosis.

Home Self-Massage Device Necessitates Public Awareness: Vertebral Artery Dissection Associated With a Home Massage Device

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a common cause of stroke in middle-aged individuals. Patients with VAD usually describe a trivial minor neck trauma preceding the event. Such traumas may be associated with spinal manipulation or sudden movements of the neck. Our case is a 43-year-old lady who presented with a history of sudden-onset dizziness, dysarthria, nausea/vomiting, tinnitus, and imbalance. Two days prior to her presentation, she experienced a new-onset moderate to severe intensity headache along with neck pain. The patient mentioned a first-time use of a home massage device three weeks prior to headache onset. After investigations, the patient was diagnosed with VAD, and treatment was initiated. She was discharged in stable condition. With the recent increased popularity of home massage devices, we report this case to raise awareness about the safe use of massage devices in order to prevent the occurrence of such injuries and complications.

Cervical Spine Manipulations: Role of Diagnostic Procedures, Effectiveness, and Safety from a Rehabilitation and Forensic Medicine Perspective: A Systematic Review

Background: Cervical spine manipulations (CSM) have been performed for centuries and are a widely practiced intervention to manage cervical spine musculoskeletal disorders. We aimed to perform an overview of the literature concerning the effects and the adverse events of CSM in the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) field with a forensic medicine perspective. Methods: A search in the scientific literature (PubMed, Google Scholar, PEDro and Cochrane) was carried out from inception until October 2020. Results: Fourteen articles were included in this narrative summary. The possible development of side effects requires a careful mandatory balance of benefits and risks even when there is an indication for this approach. Moreover, a qualified professional is essential to perform CSM–a non-invasive therapeutic procedure that can be potentially harmful. Conclusions: In conclusion, it is essential to perform the diagnosis, to treat, and to manage complications within the PRM field, both for the reduction of malpractice claims and, most importantly, for the safety of the patient.

Case Report: Vertebral Artery Dissection After Use of Handheld Massage Gun

Introduction

Arterial dissection is well known as a potential cause of stroke in young patients. Vertebral artery dissection occurs most commonly in the setting of minor trauma but has been seen in cases of cervical manipulation. With advances in at-home therapeutic modalities for neck pain came the advent of handheld massage guns. These massage guns have gained considerable popularity in recent years, but their safety for use in the cervical region has not been well studied.

Case report

In this case report, we discuss a 27-year-old female who presented with headache, neck pain, and dizziness who was found to have vertebral artery dissection after repetitive use of a handheld massage gun.

Conclusion

In young patients presenting with headache, neck pain, and vague neurologic symptoms it is important to consider vertebral artery dissection as a cause of symptoms as it can lead to serious morbidity. When considering an inciting event such as minor trauma, it may also be important to assess whether there has been use of a handheld massage gun. Although causality is difficult to establish, with the increase in use of handheld massage guns we may find more frequent association between their use and vertebral artery dissection.

Vertebral artery dissection in acute cervical spine trauma

Objective:

The aim of this study was to study mechanism, risk factors, and prognosis of patients with vertebral artery dissection (VAD) from acute cervical spine trauma (CST).

Methods:

A total of 149 consecutive patients were chosen from 2014 to 2019 from our institute data base, and their records were retrospectively studied. Morphology of fracture and subluxation were studied in detail with respect to the presence or absence of VAD.

Results:

Patients were divided in subsets of axial spine injury and subaxial spine injury. Subgroup and group analysis was performed and computerized tomography angiogram, MR angiogram and T1/T2 axial scans were studied to identify VAD, an incidence of 14.1% was found. Patients having infarcts in posterior circulation were also identified.

Conclusion:

There is a significant contribution of biomechanics of CST and evolution of VAD. This is an important consideration to prevent significant morbidity and mortality. Hence, a diagnostic algorithm which can be applied in any hospital setup is the need of the hour.

Ischemic stroke secondary to self-inflicted carotid sinus massage: a case report

Background

The risk of stroke after carotid sinus massage is greater if there is preexisting carotid stenosis or carotid plaques. We present the case of a patient with underlying 40% carotid stenosis, who developed a watershed stroke after a self-neck massage in our stroke unit. We show a well-documented case with magnetic resonance images before and after the neck massage. We report a case of a watershed brain infarct after a self-massage of the carotid sinus, with preexisting carotid artery stenosis. Neck massage continues to be a significant cause of stroke and should therefore not be performed by patients. Clinicians must be aware of the implications of a carotid sinus massage in both the outpatient and inpatient settings.

Case presentation

We admitted a 58-year-old white male patient, with no relevant medical history, to our department with a brain stem infarct. During his stay at our stroke unit, the patient performed a self-neck massage with consecutive bradycardia and asystole, resulting in left-side hemiparesis. The underlying cause of the hemodynamic stroke is believed to be secondary to this intensive neck massage performed by the patient. The patient also suffered from unknown right internal carotid artery stenosis.

Conclusion

Clinicians and patients must be aware that neck massage can lead to ischemic stroke. We postulate that repetitive impaired cardiac output can lead to a hemodynamic (watershed-type) stroke.