title: Iatrogenic vertebral artery injury secondary to vessel tortuosity in a grossly degenerate cervical spine.
abstract: Iatrogenic vertebral artery (VA) injury is a rare but significant complication of anterior cervical spine surgery. In the grossly degenerate cervical spine the VA may adopt a tortuous pathway thus predisposing to inadvertent injury during surgery. Here we illustrate such a case and discuss potential management strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, James Cook University Hospital , Middlesbrough , UK.
authors.forename: Shahid A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coulter
authors.forename: Sidney M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008875:Middle Aged; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Iatrogenic; tortuous vertebral artery; vertebral artery injury; vertebrectomy