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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2018; 79(06): 533-535
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1655771
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Vertebral Arteriovenous Fistula: A Rare Complication Following Transpedicular Occipitocervical Fixation in a Patient with Atlantoaxial Dislocation

Rongjun Qian
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
,
Zhixiao Li
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
,
Ming Li
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

11 December 2017

29 March 2018

Publication Date:
02 July 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Vertebral arteriovenous fistula (AVF), a complication of a vertebral artery injury (VAI), is a rare but serious complication of upper cervical spine fixation surgery. We report a case of a 59-year-old female patient who had a vertebral AVF following transpedicular occipitocervical fixation surgery. Endovascular embolization of the AVF was successfully performed using ethylene vinyl alcohol. From this case we learned that preoperative evaluation of the course of the vertebral artery is necessary, and vertebral artery embolism is an effective and safe method to treat vertebral AVF after proof of a patent second vertebral artery.

Keywords

vertebral arteriovenous fistula - vertebral artery injury - cervical spine - fixation
 

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