Traumatic Vertebral Artery Dissection and Basilar Artery Occlusion/Stroke in a 7-Year-Old Child: A Case Report

Abstract

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) followed by basilar artery occlusion/stroke (BAO/BAS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. We present a case report of a 7-year-old boy with VAD complicated by BAO/BAS 4 days after falling off a scooter. Symptoms included left-sided weakness and facial droop preceded by a 20-minute episode of altered sensorium. Magnetic resonance imaging showed ischemic changes in the left posterior inferior cerebellum and right pons. Computed tomography angiogram confirmed dissection of the left vertebral artery with occlusion/thrombosis of the basilar artery. Heparinization for 96 hours, followed by 6 months of low-molecular weight heparin injection, resulted in improvement of his neurological symptoms.

Keywords

basilar artery occlusion/stroke - pediatric arterial ischemic stroke - vertebral artery dissection

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