A Case of Posterior Spinal Artery Infarction after Cervical Trauma

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 18(4); 2000 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2000;18(4): 446-449.

경부외상 후에 발생한 후척수동맥 경색 1예

김진혁, 이상무 ·배재천 ·이일형 ·이병철 ·권기한

한림대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

A Case of Posterior Spinal Artery Infarction after Cervical Trauma

Jin-Hyuck Kim, M.D., Sang-Moo Lee, M.D., Jae-Chun Bae, M.D., Il-Hyeong Lee, M.D., Byung-Chul Lee, M.D., Ki-Han Kwon, M.D.

Department of Neurology, Hallym University College of Medicine

Abstract

Clinically, the infarction of posterior spinal arteries is rarely recognized due to rich anastomosis. As a result, there have been few clinical reports of posterior spinal artery infarction. A 38-year-old man experienced severe transitory neck and occipital pain after his friend had struck him on the cervical area. A few days later, he developed dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia, and decreased vibration and position senses on the right side of his body. Routine laboratory find-ings, an echocardiogram, a work-up for connective tissue diseases, and CSF studies were all found to be normal. A MRI showed increased signals in the right posterior and posterolateral part of the lower medulla and some portion of the first cervical cord on T2- and proton-weighted images without significant enhancements. A cerebral angiogram showed a long narrow thread-like segment in the distal portion of the right vertebral artery, which was indicative of a dissection. The right posterior inferior cerebellar artery was not visualized. J Korean Neurol Assoc 18(4):446~449, 2000 Key Words : Spinal cord, Infarction, Posterior inferior cerebellar artery syndrome, Dissection, Trauma