Episodic vertigo resulting from vascular risk factors, cervical spondylosis and head rotation: Two case reports.
BACKGROUND
Vascular risk factors predispose to vertebrobasilar ischemia. Cervical osteophytes can impinge on the vertebral artery causing mechanical occlusion during head turning. Presentation with vertigo in such instances is a common finding.


METHODS
A patient with obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cervical spondylosis, and vertigo triggered by head rotation is presented. She responded to antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, vestibular sedative and application of cervical collar. The second patient also exhibited similar features and responded to conservative treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Rotational vertebral artery occlusion resulting from cervical spondylosis in the presence of atherosclerosed collateral vessels is a cause of posterior circulation insufficiency manifesting as vertigo. The tetrad of vertigo resulting from vascular risk factors, cervical spondylosis, and head rotation is proposed for further research.
Owolabi
Mayowa O
MO
Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, PMB 5116, 200001, Ibadan, Nigeria. mayowaowolabi@yahoo.com
Ogah
Okechukwu S
OS
Ogunniyi
Adesola
A