Bow hunter's syndrome secondary to bilateral dynamic vertebral artery compression

Document Type

Article

Abstract

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 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.

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience

ISSN

09675868

E-ISSN

15322653

Volume

22

Issue

1

First Page

209

Last Page

212

PubMed ID

25070633

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.jocn.2014.05.027

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