title: Bow hunter's syndrome secondary to bilateral dynamic vertebral artery compression.
abstract: Bow hunter's syndrome is a condition in which vertebrobasilar insufficiency is resultant from head rotation, clinically manifested by presyncopal sensation, syncope, dizziness, and nausea. It is usually diagnosed clinically, with supporting vascular imaging demonstrating an occluded or at the very least compromised unilateral vertebral artery, while the dominant vertebral artery remains patent in the neutral position. Dynamic imaging is utilized to confirm the rotational compression of the dominant vertebral artery. We present the rare case of a patient with typical Bow hunter's symptoms, bilaterally patent vertebral arteries on neutral imaging, and bilateral compromise with head rotation. Our patient underwent posterior decompression of the culprit atlanto-axial transverse foramen and subaxial cervical fusion, with resolution of his symptoms. Our patient exemplifies the possibility of bilateral dynamic vertebral artery occlusion. We show that Bow hunter's syndrome cannot be ruled out in the setting of bilaterally patent vertebral arteries on neutral imaging and that severe cervical spondylosis should impart further clinical suspicion of this unusual phenomenon.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors: Andrew T
authors: AT
authors: Healy
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors: Bryan S
authors: BS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Walsh
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Cerebrovascular Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, S4, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors: Mark D
authors: MD
authors: Bain
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Cerebrovascular Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, S4, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Center for Spine Health, Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: Krishna@ccf.org.
authors: Ajit A
authors: AA
authors: Krishnaney
mesh_terms: D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000601:surgery; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D012399:Rotation; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Bow hunter’s syndrome; Dynamic angiography; Vertebral artery; Vertebrobasilar insufficiency