Rotational compression of the vertebral artery at the point of dural penetration - Case report

Abstract

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) due to vertebral artery (VA) compression occurs in a significant number of patients. Rotational compression of the VA usually occurs below C-2, where the artery is pinched during head rotation, leading to thrombus formation and subsequent cerebellar infarction. Although this problem has been reported to occur at the atlantooccipital levels, a review of the literature revealed no published cases of VA compression at the point of dural penetration, which is located above the atlantooccipital membrane.