Therapeutic Endovascular Treatments for Traumatic Vertebral Artery Injuries

Massive Hemorrhage Associated With Upper Cervical Vertebral Fracture Treated Successfully With Transcatheter Arterial Embolization: A Case Report

Blunt vertebral artery injuries (BVAI) associated with cervical spine fractures are often problematic due to symptoms of occlusion. Denver grade V cases, in which the vertebral artery is transected, are rare but often fatal, and treatment has rarely been reported. We encountered a case of hemorrhagic shock due to an injury to a branch of the vertebral artery associated with an upper cervical spine fracture. Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed successfully to achieve hemostasis, requiring superselective arterial embolization to preserve the main trunk of the vertebral artery. It is important to be aware that vascular injuries to the branch vessels as well as the main trunk can cause complications.

Outcomes following surgical and endovascular treatment of extracranial vertebral artery aneurysms (VAA): a systematic evaluation of the literature

Extracranial vertebral artery aneurysms are rare complications resulting from trauma and multiple different diseases. However, the difference between clinical and surgical profiles is well understood. To investigate the clinical and interventional outcomes following extracranial vertebral artery aneurysms (VAA) treatment through a systematic review of the literature to date, an electronic database search for full-text English articles was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The search yielded results on clinical and surgical outcomes for extracranial VAAs. These results included patient-specific risk factors, indications, and techniques. Our literature search resulted in 561 articles, of which 36 studies were qualified to be included in the analysis. A total of 55 patients with multiple various extracranial VAA incidents were included. The mean age of subjects was 42 years (ranging from 13.0 to 76.0 years), and the majority of patients were males (71%, n =39). Blunt trauma was the most frequent risk factor for extracranial VAA formation (35%, n = 19). The majority of aneurysms (60%) were dissected in nature. The most common form of treatment for extracranial VAAs was the use of a flow diverter (24%, n=13). Overall, five (9%) patients had long-term adverse neurological complications following intervention with 5% (n=3) mortality, 2% (n=1) resulting in unilateral vocal cord paralysis, and 2% (n=1) resulted in a positive Romberg sign. The mortality rate is 15.7% in the surgical group, whereas the endovascular treatment did not result in any mortality. The endovascular approach is a safe and effective treatment of extracranial VAAs due to its relatively low overall complication rate and lack of resulting mortality. This is in contrast to the surgical approach which results in a higher rate of complications, recurrence, and mortality outcomes. An understanding of the factors and clinical outcomes associated with the incidence of extracranial VAAs is essential for the future improvement of patient outcomes.

Management of a penetrating vertebral artery injury in a peripheral hospital

Vertebral artery (VA) injuries in penetrating trauma are rare but can be life threatening. Management is often reliant on interventional radiology (IR), although such services may be lacking in peripheral centres. We report a case of a 22-year-old man who sustained a right VA injury from a stab wound to the posterolateral neck that was managed in a rural hospital. On presentation, the patient was initially haemodynamically stable but began exsanguinating heavily whilst undergoing imaging and was subsequently transferred to the operating theatre. Intraoperatively, bleeding was noted from the C5/C6 interforaminal space. Due to difficulty with exposure and lack of specialist surgical services, bimanual pressure was continuously applied to the wound whilst awaiting the arrival of a vascular surgeon and neuro-interventionalist who were transported by air from a tertiary hospital. At the time of angiography, bleeding had ceased and no further intervention was required. This case highlights the importance for surgeons in peripheral centres to be aware of some of the operative manouvres used in managing VA injuries including the utility of continued direct pressure. Moreover, it serves as a reminder that there remains a role for operative intervention in the unstable patient despite increasing reliance on radiological techniques to treat such injuries.

Long-Term Outcomes of Stenting on Non-Acute Phase Extracranial Supra-Aortic Dissections

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Penetrating vertebral artery injury treated by combining the "zone" approach and imaging tests: A case report

Patients with vertebral artery injury from penetrating neck trauma may not present with signs of vascular injury because of anatomical characteristics and concomitant conditions, such as hypothermia and shock. If patients are hemodynamically stable, imaging tests should be performed to examine the posterior components, including the vertebral artery.

Endovascular Therapy of Vascular Trauma—Current Options and Review of the Literature

Objective:

To review the current use of endovascular techniques in trauma.

Summary Background Data:

Multiple studies have demonstrated that, despite current guidelines, endovascular therapies are used in instances of arterial trauma.

Methods:

The existing literature concerning arterial trauma was reviewed. Studies reviewed included case reports, single-center case series, large database studies, official industry publications and instructions for use, and society guidelines.

Results:

Endovascular therapies are used in arterial trauma in all systems. The use of thoracic endografts in blunt thoracic aortic trauma is accepted and endorsed by society guidelines. The use of endovascular therapies in other anatomic locations is largely limited to single-center studies. Advantages potentially include less morbidity due to smaller incisions as well as shorter operating room times. Many report using endovascular therapies even with hard signs of injury. Long-term results are limited by a lack of long-term follow-up but, in general, suggest that these techniques produce acceptable outcomes. The adoption of these techniques may be limited by resource and surgeon availability.

Conclusions:

The use of endovascular therapies in trauma has gained acceptance despite not yet having a place in official guidelines.

Management Approach of Penetrating Vertebral Artery Injury with Concomitant Cervical Nerve Root Injury in Regional Hospital: Report of Two Cases

Penetrating vertebral artery injury is uncommon yet potentially fatal. We present two cases of penetrating vertebral artery injury with concomitant cervical nerve root injury managed in our centre. The first case was a young gentleman who suffered from neck injury by broken metal fragment. Cervical nerve root injury was suspected preoperatively. Massive bleeding from vertebral artery was encountered during wound exploration. It was managed by ligation, followed by retrograde endovascular embolisation. The second case was a young lady being assaulted with knife and fork over the neck. She was also suspected to have cervical nerve root injury preoperatively. Vascular control of vertebral artery was achieved with endovascular intervention. Subsequent operation for foreign body removal and nerve root repair was performed with minimal bleeding intraoperatively. Management approach of penetrating vertebral artery injury with concomitant cervical nerve root injury and the role of endovascular intervention were discussed.

Temporary vertebral artery occlusion after C3 fracture dislocation injury and spontaneous resolution following reduction and instrumented fusion: case report and literature review

Vertebral artery injuries as a result of blunt trauma can result in vertebrobasilar strokes. Typical treatment of such an injury includes early anticoagulation to prevent cerebral ischemic events due to vessel occlusion or embolism. We present a case of cervical fracture-dislocation injury and compression/occlusion of the right vertebral artery, which spontaneously resolved following surgical reduction and fusion. Postoperative cerebral angiography showed no evidence of vertebral artery stenosis, and systemic anticoagulation was discontinued. This case shows that vertebral artery occlusion can resolve spontaneously after fracture reduction, and cerebral angiography should play a role in assessing these complicated traumatic injuries.

The perivascular environment along the vertebral artery governs segment-specific structural and mechanical properties

The vertebral arteries (VAs) are anatomically divided into four segments (V₁-V₄), which cumulatively transport blood flow through neck and ultimately form the posterior circulation of the brain. The vital physiological function of these conduit vessels depends on their geometry, composition and mechanical properties, all of which may vary among the defined arterial segments. Despite their significant role in blood circulation and susceptibility to injury, few studies have focused on characterizing the mechanical properties of VAs, and none have investigated the potential for segmental variation that could arise due to distinct perivascular environments. In this study, we compare the passive mechanical response of the central, juxtaposed arterial segments of porcine VAs (V₂ and V₃) via inflation-extension mechanical testing. Obtained experimental data and histological measures of arterial wall composition were used to adjust parameters of structure-motivated constitutive models that quantify the passive mechanical properties of each arterial segment and enable prediction of wall stress distributions under physiologic loads and boundary conditions. Our findings reveal significant segmental differences in the arterial wall geometry and structure. Nevertheless, similar wall stress distributions are predicted in these neighboring arterial segments if calculations account for their specific perivascular environments. These findings allow speculation that segmental differences in wall structure and geometry are a consequence of a previously introduced principle of optimal operation of arteries, which ensures effective bearing of physiological load and a favorable mechanical environment for mechanosensitive vascular smooth muscle cells.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Among the numerous biomechanical investigations devoted to conduit blood vessels, only a few deal with vertebral arteries. While these studies provide useful information that describes the vessel mechanical response, they do not enable identification of a constitutive formulation of the mechanical properties of the vessel wall. This is an important distinction, as a constitutive material model is required to calculate the local stress environment of mechanosensitive vascular cells and fully understand the mechanical implications of both vascular injury and clinical intervention. Moreover, segmental differences in the mechanical properties of the vertebral arteries could be used to discriminate among distinct modes of injury and disease etiologies.

Strategy for endovascular coil embolization of a penetrating vertebral artery injury

Background:

Penetrating vertebral artery injuries (VAIs) are even rarer than carotid artery injuries. For anatomical reasons, the surgical management of VAI is difficult, and endovascular management often yields a good outcome. We report our strategy for the endovascular treatment of a patient with a penetrating VAI at the V2 segment of the left vertebral artery.

Case Description:

In a fall on a large rake, a 76-year-old man was stabbed in the left neck by three tines. Although he manifested no neurological deficits, computed tomography (CT) suggested penetrating VAI. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed VAI and extravasation, and he underwent endovascular coil embolization. Two microcatheters, inserted proximal and distal to the injury sites, were used for successful endovascular coil embolization. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging - and single photon emission CT studies denied cerebral infarction and a decrease in cerebral perfusion. The patient exhibited no neurological deficits and was able to leave the hospital on foot.

Conclusion:

This is the rare documentation of a patient whose penetrating VAI was treated by simultaneous coil embolization and foreign body removal. Imaging studies confirmed the patency and perfusion of the intracranial artery. Our treatment strategy produced a good outcome in this unusual patient.

Endovascular therapy for cerebrovascular injuries after head and neck trauma

Cerebrovascular injuries after blunt or penetrating head and neck trauma often lead to significant disability from ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and uncontrolled extracranial hemorrhage. Trauma causes carotid or vertebral dissection, occlusion, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, vessel transection, traumatic epistaxis, venous sinus thrombosis and carotid cavernous fistula. The rapid development of neuroendovascular techniques over the past two decades has led to effective therapies for each of these injuries. Controlled lesion embolization may use coils, liquid embolics (onyx or n-butyl cyanoarcrylate), polyvinyl alcohol particles or detachable balloons; there is stent angioplasty with uncovered, overlapping and covered stents or mechanical thrombolysis using stent-retrievers or aspiration catheters and the use of balloon occlusion tests and supraselective angiography to delineate safety of vessel sacrifice and to diagnose occult lesions respectively. Furthermore, the proliferation of stroke centers has increased local availability of rapid neuroendovascular expertise at many major trauma centers. Neuroendovascular therapies are less invasive than surgery, can often preserve the injured parent vessels and aid in treating conditions where surgery may be limited. In the absence of randomized controlled trials we present a narrative review of current endovascular therapeutic applications for each of these injuries. This expands the therapies at trauma teams' disposal in the continued effort to control bleeding, reduce secondary injury and prevent disability after trauma. Further research is necessary to inform the role of endovascular techniques after trauma. In particular, comparative studies are necessary to quantify the risk and benefits in conditions where surgical options also exist.

Individualized endovascular treatment of high-grade traumatic vertebral artery injury

BACKGROUND

Traumatic vertebral artery injury (TVAI) is associated with craniocervical trauma that can lead to potentially fatal posterior circulation stroke. It presents a clinical challenge since it is hard to detect and there are no widely accepted guidelines on diagnosis and management. High-grade TVAI is more difficult to treat and no consensus has been reached yet.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, long-term, therapeutic study involving 272 patients with craniocervical injury, eleven of which were diagnosed with high-grade TVAI. Individualized endovascular treatments were performed on these patients based upon the hemodynamic and morphological characteristics of the injured vertebral artery. Postoperative angiography was conducted at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, and then annually after intervention.

RESULTS

Ten vertebral pseudoaneurysms and one arteriovenous fistula (AVF) were confirmed by postoperative angiography. All the participants' neurological deficit symptoms disappeared or were significantly alleviated gradually, and no new symptoms were found after endovascular treatment. Follow-up angiography of the patients with pseudoaneurysms showed a normally shaped vertebral artery with no stenosis or aneurysms; the angiographic result of the patient with the AVF presented successful embolization in the proximal vertebral artery fistula with no progression or new stenosis. Their modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were also satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of individualized endovascular therapy in high-grade TVAI is safe, technically feasible and clinically effective, but there is no comparison between endovascular management and other management approaches because randomized trials cannot be carried out currently.

Minimal invasive management of traumatic transection of the vertebral artery

Stab wounds to the neck can be potentially lethal. They are often associated with vascular injury of the carotid artery and jugular vein. Injury of the vertebral artery is rarely seen. The injury can vary from severe bleeding after transection with hemorrhage into the surrounding soft tissues of the neck to dissection and separation of the intimal lining from the subjacent media of an artery and subsequent occlusion of the vessel. We report a case of traumatic vertebral artery transection managed by minimal invasive balloon occlusion.

Blunt traumatic vertebral artery injury: a clinical review

Blunt traumatic vertebral injury (TVAI) is frequently associated with head and neck injury and is being detected with increasing frequency due to improved imaging of the trauma patient. In a few cases, it can lead to potentially fatal posterior circulation ischaemia There is debate in the literature regarding whether TVAI should be actively screened for and, if so, how. Management of TVAI may be conservative, medical (antiplatelet agents or anticoagulation), endovascular or open surgery. We review the literature concerning the mechanisms and presentation of TVAI following blunt injury and the current screening recommendations. Management strategies proposed are based on the radiological grade and clinical severity of TVAI, where high-grade symptomatic injuries and high-grade injuries in patients where anticoagulation is contraindicated are treated endovascularly and asymptomatic or low-grade injuries are managed with anticoagulation where it is not contraindicated. Follow-up is via CT angiography to assess for resolution of the injury.

Endovascular Stenting of Extracranial Carotid and Vertebral Artery Dissections: A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND:

Carotid and vertebral artery dissections are a leading cause of stroke in young individuals.

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the published safety and efficacy of endovascular stenting for extracranial artery dissection.

METHODS:

We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify all cases of endovascular management of extracranial carotid and vertebral artery dissections.

RESULTS:

For carotid dissections, our review yielded 31 published reports including 140 patients (153 vessels). Reported etiologies were traumatic (48%, n = 64), spontaneous (37%, n = 49), and iatrogenic (16%, n = 21). The technical success rate of stenting was 99%, and the procedural complication rate was 1.3%. Mean angiographic follow-up was 12.8 months (range, 2-72 months) and revealed in-stent stenosis or occlusion in 2% of patients. Mean clinical follow-up was 17.7 months (range, 1-72 months), and neurological events were seen in 1.4% of patients. For vertebral artery dissections, our review revealed 8 reports including 10 patients (12 vessels). Etiologies were traumatic (60%, n = 6), spontaneous (20%, n = 2), and iatrogenic (20%, n = 2). There was a 100% technical success rate. The mean angiographic follow-up period was 7.5 months (range, 2-12 months). No new neurological events were reported during a mean clinical follow-up period of 26.4 months (range, 3-55 months).

CONCLUSION:

Endovascular management of extracranial arterial dissection continues to evolve. Current experience shows that this treatment option is safe and technically feasible. Prospective randomized trials compared with medical management are needed to further elucidate the role of stenting.

Multidetector row computed tomography in the management of penetrating neck injuries

Penetrating neck trauma may occur from gun shots, stabbings, and accidental injury. Approximately 50% of gunshot and 10%-20% of stab-wound patients are reported as having severe injuries and the mortality from severe vascular injuries is reported as high as 50%. Penetrating traumatic neck injury is no longer best managed with exploratory surgery or conventional angiography in the stable patient. Computed tomography angiography has proven to be a useful, safe, and reliable means of diagnosis. Experience with interpreting and reconstructing computed tomography images, understanding the clinically important findings, and avoiding pitfalls is critical for successful patient care. Therefore, radiologists and clinicians who treat trauma patients need to familiarize themselves with the computed tomography angiography technique and appearances of vascular injury and know when to recommend further evaluation, such as interventional angiography or open surgery.