title: A novel sling technique for microvascular decompression of a rare anomalous vertebral artery causing cervical radiculopathy.
abstract: Cervical radiculopathy secondary to compression from congenital anomalous vertebral arteries (VAs) is a known entity. Patients present with a variety of symptoms ranging from upper-extremity numbness to true occipital neuralgia. Treatment options for extracranial tortuous VAs include conservative management or some form of surgical microvascular decompression (MVD). The authors report on a patient with a congenital anomalous VA loop causing cervical nerve root compression. Successful MVD was conducted with relief of the patient's symptoms. A novel sling technique was used for mobilization of the VA. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first MVD described utilizing this technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10467, USA. atandon26@gmail.com
authors.forename: Adesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: Sid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandela
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Chandranath
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*