Posterior decompression of the vertebral artery narrowed by cervical osteophyte: case report.
BACKGROUND
Symptomatic vertebral artery compression caused by cervical spondylosis usually is caused by compression of the artery by osteophytes arising from the uncinate process. Compression from facet joint osteophytes is seldom reported.


METHODS
A 69-year-old male developed symptomatic vertebral artery stenosis secondary to an osteophyte arising from the superior facet of the sixth cervical vertebra posterior to the artery. A posterior decompression of the vertebral artery with removal of the offending facet joint complex relieved the patient's transient neurologic events.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatic vertebral artery stenosis may be caused by osteophytes compressing the vertebral artery anteriorly from the uncinate process or posteriorly from the facet complex.
D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*