Repair of injured vertebral artery in anterior cervical procedures

A case report of treatment of injury to the vertebral artery in anterior cervical procedures is presented with a review of the literature. The feasibility of direct surgical repair is suggested. Currently, ligation or tamponade is accepted as the treatment of injury to the vertebral artery in anterior cervical surgery. Significant morbidity can result from this method. Direct repair should eliminate this morbidity. A report is presented of a patient who sustained injury to the vertebral artery, and the technique of repair is discussed. The literature was reviewed. The outcome was successful regarding both repair and the primary procedure. Although it is impossible to make a recommendation based on a single incident, this technique is believed to minimize postoperative sequelae that can be associated with occlusion of the vertebral artery.