Vertebral artery injury in cervical spine surgery: anatomical considerations, management, and preventive measures

Spine Journal

Volumn 9, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 70-76

  Peng, Chan W ^a   Chou, Benedict T ^a   Bendo, John A ^a   Spivak, Jeffrey M ^a  

^a NYU HOSPITAL FOR JOINT DISEASES   (United States)

Author keywords

Anatomy; Cervical spine surgery; Spine instrumentation; Vertebral artery injury

Indexed keywords

ARTERY INJURY; COMPUTER ASSISTED TOMOGRAPHY; HUMAN; NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; SPINE STABILIZATION; SPINE SURGERY; SURGICAL TECHNIQUE; VERTEBRAL ARTERY;

CERVICAL VERTEBRAE; HUMANS; ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES; SPINAL INJURIES; VERTEBRAL ARTERY;

EID: 57849133190     PISSN: 15299430     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2008.03.006     Document Type: Review

References (55)

1. Daentzer D., Deinsberger W., and Boker D. Vertebral artery complications in anterior approaches to the cervical spine: report of two cases and review of literature. Surg Neurol 59 (2003) 300-309
2. Golfinos J., Dickman C., Zabramski J., Sonntag V., and Spetzler R. Repair of vertebral artery injury during anterior cervical decompression. Spine 19 (1994) 2552-2556
3. Smith M., Emery S., Dudley A., Murray K., and Leventhal M. Vertebral artery injury during anterior decompression of the cervical spine: a retrospective review of ten patients. J Bone Joint Surg 75 B (1993) 410-415
4. Burke J.P., Gerszten P.C., and Welch W.C. Iatrogenic vertebral artery injury during anterior cervical spine surgery. Spine J 5 (2005) 508
5. Abumi K., Shono Y., Ito M., Taneichi H., Kotani Y., and Kaneda K. Complications of pedicle screw fixation in reconstructive surgery of the cervical spine. Spine 25 (2000) 962-969
6. Haid R., Subach B., McLaughlin M., Rodts G., and Wahlig J. C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation for atlantoaxial instability: a 6-year experience. Neurosurgery 49 (2001) 65-69
7. Madawi A.A., Casey A., Solanki G., Tuite G., Veres R., and Crockard H. Radiological and anatomical evaluation of the atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation technique. J Neurosurg 86 (1997) 961-968
8. Wright N., and Lauryssen C. Vertebral artery injury in C1-2 transarticular screw fixation: results of a survey of the AANS/CNS section on disorders of the spine and peripheral nerves. J Neurosurg 88 (1998) 634-640
9. Deen H., Birch B., Wharen R., and Reimer R. Lateral mass screw-rod fixation of the cervical spine: a prospective clinical series with 1-year follow-up. Spine J 3 (2003) 489-495
10. Heller J.G., Silcox III D.H., and Sutterlin III C.E. Complications of posterior cervical plating. Spine 20 (1995) 2442-2448
11. Pateder D.B., and Carbone J.J. Lateral mass screw fixation for cervical spine trauma: associated complications and efficacy in maintaining alignment. Spine J 6 (2006) 40-43
12. Lu J., and Ebraheim N. The vertebral artery: surgical anatomy. Orthopedics 22 (1999) 1081-1085
13. Heary R., Todd A.J., and Ludwig S.C. Surgical anatomy of the vertebral arteries. Spine 21 (1996) 2074-2080
14. Vaccaro A., Ring D., Scuderi G., and Garfin S. Vertebral artery location in relation to the vertebral body as determined by two-dimensional computed tomography evaluation. Spine 19 (1994) 2637-2641
15. Pait T., Killefer J., and Arnautovic K. Surgical anatomy of the anterior cervical spine: the disc space, vertebral artery, and associated bony structures. [Surgical Anatomy]. Neurosurgery 39 (1996) 769-776
16. Lu J., Ebraheim N., Georgiadis G., Yang H., and Yeasting R. Anatomic considerations of the vertebral artery: implications for anterior decompression of the cervical spine. J Spinal Disord 11 (1998) 233-236
17. Oh S.H., Perin N.I., and Cooper P.R. Quantitative three-dimensional anatomy of the subaxial cervical spine: implication for anterior spinal surgery. Neurosurgery 38 (1996) 1139-1144
18. Curylo L., Mason H., Bohlman H., and Yoo J. Tortuous course of the vertebral artery and anterior cervical decompression: a cadaveric and clinical case study. Spine 25 (2000) 2860-2864
19. Ebraheim N.A., Xu R.M., Ahmad M., and Heck B. The quantitative anatomy of the vertebral artery groove of the atlas and its relation to the posterior atlantoaxial approach. Spine 23 (1998) 320-323
20. Gluf W., Schmidt M., and Apfelbaum R. Atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation: a review of surgical indications, fusion rate, complications, and lessons learned in 191 adult patients. J Neurosurg Spine 2 (2005) 155-163
21. Hadley M. C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation for atlantoaxial instability: a 6-year experience. [Comment]. Neurosurgery 49 (2001) 69
22. Mendez J., and Gonzales-Llanos F. Endovascular treatment of a vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm following posterior C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 28 (2005) 107-109
23. Prabhu V., France J., Voelker J., and Zoarski G. Vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm complicating posterior C1-2 transarticular screw fixation: case report. Surg Neurol 55 (2001) 29-34
24. Neo M., Matsushita M., Iwashita Y., Yasuda T., Sakamoto T., and Nakamura T. Atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation for a high-riding vertebral artery. Spine 28 (2003) 666-670
25. Neo M., Sakamoto T., Fujibayashi S., and Nakamura T. A safe screw trajectory for atlantoaxial transarticular fixation achieved using an aiming device. Spine 30 (2005) E236-E242
26. Harms J., and Melcher R.P. Posterior C1-C2 fusion with polyaxial screw and rod fixation. Spine 26 (2001) 2467-2471
27. Goel A., Desai K.I., and Muzumdar D.P. Atlantoaxial fixation using plate and screw method: a report of 160 treated patients. Neurosurgery 51 (2002) 1351-1357
28. Ebraheim N.A., Rollins J.R., Xu R., et al. Anatomic consideration of C2 pedicle screw placement. Spine 21 (1996) 691-695
29. Rocha R., Safavi-Abbasi S., Reis C., et al. Working area, safety zones, and angles of approach for posterior C-1 lateral mass screw placement: a quantitative anatomical and morphometric evaluation. J Neurosurg Spine 6 (2007) 247-254
30. Jian F.Z., Santoro A., Wang X.W., Passacantili E., Seferi A., and Liu S.S. A vertebral artery tortuous course below the posterior arch of the atlas (without passing through the transverse foramen). Anatomical report and clinical significance. J Neurosurg Sci 47 (2003) 183-187
31. Currier B.L., Todd L.T., Maus T.P., Fisher D.R., and Yaszemski M.J. Anatomic relationship of the internal carotid artery to the C1 vertebra: a case report of cervical reconstruction for chordoma and pilot study to assess the risk of screw fixation of the atlas. Spine 28 (2003) E461-E467
32. Barrey C., Martens P., Jund J., Cotton F., and Perrin G. Quantitative anatomic evaluation of cervical lateral mass fixation with a comparison of the Roy-Camille and the Magerl screw techniques. Spine 30 (2005) E140-E147
33. Ebraheim N., Xu R., and Yeasting R. The location of the vertebral artery foramen and its relation to posterior lateral mass screw fixation. Spine 21 (1996) 1291-1295
34. Kotil K., and Bilge T. Accuracy of pedicle and mass screw placement in the spine without using fluoroscopy: a prospective clinical study. Spine J (2007 May 29) [Epub ahead of print]
35. Roche S., de Freitas D.J., Lenehan B., Street J.T., and McCabe J.P. Posterior cervical screw placement without image guidance: a safe and reliable practice. J Spinal Disord Tech 19 (2006) 383-388
36. Kast E., Mohr K., Richter H.P., and Borm W. Complications of transpedicular screw fixation in the cervical spine. Eur Spine J 15 (2006) 327-334
37. Richter M., Mattes T., and Cakir B. Computer-assisted posterior instrumentation of the cervical and cervico-thoracic spine. Eur Spine J 13 (2004) 50-59
38. Karaikovic E.E., Daubs M.D., Madsen R.W., and Gaines J.R.W. Morphologic characteristics of human cervical pedicles. Spine 22 (1997) 493-550
39. Oga M., Yuge I., Terada K., Shimizu A., and Sugioka Y. Tortuosity of the vertebral artery in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: risk factor for the vertebral artery injury during anterior cervical decompression. [Case Report]. Spine 21 (1996) 1085-1089
40. Tumialan L., Wippold II F., and Morgan R. Tortuous vertebral artery injury complicating anterior cervical spinal fusion in a symptomatic rheumatoid cervical spine. Spine 29 (2004) E343-E348
41. Zimmerman H., and Farrell W. Cervical vertebral erosion caused by vertebral artery tortuosity. AJR Am J Roentgenol 108 (1970) 767-777
42. Tokuda K., Miyasaka K., Abe H., et al. Anomalous atlantoaxial portions of vertebral and posterior inferior cerebellar arteries. Neuroradiology 27 (1985) 410-413
43. Epstein N. Intraoperative cervical vertebral artery injury treated by tamponade and endovascular coiling. Spine J 3 (2003) 404-405
44. Paramore C.G., Dickman C.A., and Sonntag V.K.H. The anatomic suitability of the C1-2 complex for transarticular screw fixation. J Neurosurg 85 (1996) 221-224
45. Cosgrove G.R., and Theron J. Vertebral arteriovenous fistula following anterior cervical spine surgery: report of two cases. J Neurosurg 66 (1987) 297-299
46. Shintani A., and Zervas N. Consequence of ligation of the vertebral artery. J Neurosurg 36 (1972) 447-450
47. Alzamora M., Rosahl S., Lehmberg J., and Klisch J. Life-threatening bleeding from a vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm after anterior cervical spine approach: endovascular repair by a triple stent-in-stent method. case report. Neuroradiology 47 (2005) 282-286
48. Jenis L., and Leclair W. Late vascular complication with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Spine 19 (1994) 1291-1293
49. Diaz-Daza O., Arraiza F.J., Barkley J.M., et al. Endovascular therapy of traumatic lesions of the head and neck. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 26 (2003) 213-221
50. Golueke P., Sclafani S., Phillips T., Goldstein A., Scalea T., and Duncan A. Vertebral artery injury-diagnosis and management. J Trauma 27 (1987) 856-864
51. de los Reyes R.A., Moser F., Sachs D., and Boehm F. Direct repair of and extracranial vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm: case report and review of the literature. Neurosurgery 26 (1990) 528-533
52. Choi J.W., Lee J.K., Moon K.S., et al. Endovascular embolisation of iatrogenic vertebral artery injury during anterior cervical spine surgery. Spine 31 (2006) E891-E894
53. Wright N. Posterior C2 fixation using bilateral, crossing C2 laminar screws: case series and technical note. J Spinal Disord Tech 17 (2004) 158-162
54. Freidberg S.R., Pfeifer B.A., Dempsey P.K., et al. Intraoperative computerized tomography scanning to assess the adequacy of decompression in anterior cervical spine surgery. J Neurosurg 94 (2001) 8-11
55. Schlenzka D., Laine T., and Lund T. Computer-assisted spine surgery. Eur Spine J 9 Suppl 1 (2000) S57-S64