The Syndrome of Mechanical Occlusion of the Vertebral Artery; Further Observations

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Abstract
The syndrome of mechanical occlusion of the vertebral artery hinges on 2 factors. Occlusion of a normal vertebral artery is produced by the action of neck muscles, namely the longus colli, the scalenus and medius muscles, when the head is turned to the side. The contralateral artery is hypoplastic and unable to meet the demands of the basilar circulation. Twenty-three cases of this syndrome were reported in detail. The treatment is surgical and consists of decompressing the artery by resecting the involved tendons and replacing them with a fat pedicle. Case follow-up to date ranges from 6 to 42 mo.