CrossFit-related cervical internal carotid artery dissection.
CrossFit is a high-intensity strength and conditioning program that has gained popularity over the past decade. Potential injuries associated with CrossFit training have been suggested in past reports. We report three cases of cervical carotid dissection that are associated with CrossFit workouts. Patient 1 suffered a distal cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection near the skull base and a small infarct in Wernicke's area. He was placed on anticoagulation and on follow-up has near complete recovery. Patient 2 suffered a proximal cervical ICA dissection that led to arterial occlusion and recurrent middle cerebral artery territory infarcts and significant neurological sequelae. Patient 3 had a skull base ICA dissection that led to a partial Horner's syndrome but no cerebral infarct. While direct causality cannot be proven, intense CrossFit workouts may have led to the ICA dissections in these patients.
Department of Radiology, University of California Davis Medical Center, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3100, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA, albert.lu@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.
Albert
A
Lu
Peter
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Shen
Paul
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Lee
Brian
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Dahlin
Ben
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Waldau
Anna E
AE
Nidecker
Anoop
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Nundkumar
Matthew
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Bobinski
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D020446:Fitness Centers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult