Bow Hunter’s Syndrome in Children: A Review of the Literature and Presentation of a New Case in a 12-Year-Old Girl

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 767-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith R. Golomb ◽  
Katrina A. Ducis ◽  
Mesha L. Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
English Language ◽  
Recurrent Stroke ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Hunter Syndrome ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Vascular Compression ◽  
Cervical Fusion ◽  
Male Predominance ◽  
Hunter's Syndrome

Background: Bow hunter's syndrome, or occlusion of the vertebral artery with head rotation leading to ischemia and sometimes stroke, is rarely described in children. The authors review the literature and present a new case. Methods: Both OVID dating back to 1946 and PubMed records were reviewed using the terms (“Bow hunter syndrome” OR “bow hunter’s”) OR “rotational vertebral artery occlusion” combined with “child,” and limited to English language. SCOPUS and the bibliographies of cases found in the search were used to identify additional articles. Results: Twelve articles were found describing 25 patients; there were 26 patients when combined with our case. Ages ranged from 1 to 18 years. Most (88.5%, 23/26) were male. Medical treatments included aspirin, clopidogrel, abciximab, enoxaparin, warfarin, and cervical collar. Stenting was tried in 2 cases but did not work long-term. Surgical treatments included decompression, cervical fusion, or a combination. We present a new case of a 12-year-old girl with recurrent stroke who had bilateral vascular compression only visible on provocative angiographic imaging with head turn. She was referred for cervical fusion, and abnormal ligamentous laxity was noted intraoperatively. Conclusions: Bow hunter's syndrome is a rare but important cause of stroke since many of the patients experience recurrent strokes before the diagnosis is made. Reasons for the male predominance are unclear. Provocative angiography plays a key role in diagnosis, and both medical treatment and neurosurgical intervention may prevent recurrence.

Spontaneous atraumatic vertebral artery occlusion due to physiological cervical extension

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina G. Safain ◽  
Jordan Talan ◽  
Adel M. Malek ◽  
Steven W. Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Head Movement ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Vascular Compression ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Cerebral Angiogram ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
History Of ◽  
Hunter's Syndrome

Vertebral artery (VA) occlusion is a serious and potentially life-threatening occurrence. Bow hunter's syndrome, a mechanical occlusion of the VA due to physiological head rotation, has been well described in the medical literature. However, mechanical VA compression due to routine flexion or extension of the neck has not been previously reported. The authors present the unique case of a woman without any history of trauma who had multiple posterior fossa strokes and was found to have dynamic occlusion of her right VA visualized via cerebral angiogram upon extension of her neck. This occlusion was attributed to instability at the occipitocervical junction in a patient with a previously unknown congenital fusion of both the occiput to C-1 and C-2 to C-3. An occiput to C-3 fusion was performed to stabilize her cervical spine and minimize the dynamic vascular compression. A postoperative angiogram showed no evidence of restricted flow with flexion or extension of the neck. This case emphasizes the importance of considering symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency as a result of physiological head movement. The authors also review the literature on VA compression resulting from physiological head movement as well as strategies for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Rotational vertebral artery occlusion: Case report and review of literature

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Vascular Lesion ◽  
Vascular Compression ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Transverse Foramen ◽  
Vertebral Artery Occlusion ◽  
The Right

Rotational vertebral artery occlusion (RVAO) classically involves transient, position-dependent vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) that occurs when an extra-vascular lesion (e.g. osteophyte or fibromuscular band) compresses a dominant vertebral artery with turning of the head to one side. Our patient presented with VBI associated vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness that occurred when her head was turned to the right. RVAO was initially suggested by transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) changes that were not supported by initial catheter angiography. After her symptoms worsened over a course of two years, the diagnosis was confirmed with repeat angiography with head rotation. Further imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance demonstrated spondylosis at the C5-C6 vertebrae and an osteophyte near the C5 transverse foramen, which caused position-dependent extra-vascular compression. She was treated with surgical decompression and anterior discectomy and fusion at C5-C6. The unique anatomical pathology of this case combined with the diagnostic discrepancy between early TCD and angiography make it an interesting contribution to the otherwise limited body of literature on RVAO.

Atlanto-Occipital Decompression of Vertebral Artery for a Variant of Bow Hunter's Syndrome: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nickalus R Khan ◽  
Turki Elarjani ◽  
Stephanie H Chen ◽  
Laszlo Miskolczi ◽  
Sheryl Strasser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Rare Condition ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Spinal Instability ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
Common Etiology ◽  
Neurologically Intact ◽  
Hunter's Syndrome ◽  
Visual Abnormalities

Abstract Rotational vertebral artery (VA) occlusion syndrome, also known as bow hunter's syndrome, is an uncommon variant of vertebrobasilar insufficiency typically occurring with head rotation.1-3 The most common presenting symptom is dizziness (76.8%), followed by visual abnormalities and syncope (50.4% and 40.4%, respectively).2 Osteophytic compression due to spinal spondylosis has been shown to be the most common etiology (46.2%), with other factors, such as a fibrous band, muscular compression, or spinal instability, being documented.1,2 Treatment is dependent on the level and site of VA compression with anterior, anterolateral, or posterior approaches being described.1,4 We present the case of a 72-yr-old male with osteophytic compression of the V3 segment of the vertebral artery at the occipital-cervical junction. The patient underwent a C1 hemilaminectomy and removal of osteophytic compression from the occipital-cervical joint. The patient had complete resolution of compression of his vertebral artery on postoperative imaging and remained neurologically intact following the procedure. We review the literature on this topic, the technical nuances of the procedure performed, and review the different treatment modalities available for this rare condition.1-11  The patient consented to the procedure and to publication of their image.

Cryptic Recanalization of Chronic Vertebral Artery Occlusion by Head Rotation

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. e60-e61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Yagi ◽  
Hiroshi Nakagawa ◽  
Hideo Mure ◽  
Shinya Okita ◽  
Shinji Nagahiro
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Vertebral Artery Occlusion

Upbeat nystagmus during head rotation in rotational vertebral artery occlusion

2014 ◽  
Vol 261 (6) ◽  
pp. 1213-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Ha Park ◽  
Seong-Jang Kim ◽  
Jae-Deuk Seo ◽  
Dae-Hyun Kim ◽  
Jae-Hwan Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Vertebral Artery Occlusion ◽  
Upbeat Nystagmus

scholarly journals Single-center series of boys with recurrent strokes and rotational vertebral arteriopathy

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (13) ◽  
pp. e1830-e1834
Author(s):  
Christine K. Fox ◽  
Heather J. Fullerton ◽  
Steven W. Hetts ◽  
Van V. Halbach ◽  
Kurtis I. Auguste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Recurrent Stroke ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Os Odontoideum ◽  
Stroke Recurrence ◽  
Pediatric Stroke ◽  
Activity Restriction ◽  
Tissue Abnormalities

ObjectiveTo describe a pediatric stroke syndrome with chronic focal vertebral arteriopathy adjacent to cervical abnormalities.MethodsAt a single pediatric stroke center, we identified consecutive children with stroke and vertebral arteriopathy of the V3 segment with adjacent cervical bony or soft tissue abnormalities. We abstracted clinical presentation, treatment, and follow-up data from medical charts.ResultsFrom 2005 to 2019, 10 children (all boys, ages 6–16 years) presented with posterior circulation strokes and vertebral arteriopathy with adjacent cervical pathology. Two children had bony abnormalities: one had a congenital arcuate foramen and one had os odontoideum with cervical instability. In children without bony pathology, vertebral artery narrowing during contralateral head rotation was visualized by digital subtraction angiography. Eight boys had recurrent ischemic events despite anti-thrombotic treatment (including 5 with multiple recurrences) and were treated surgically to prevent additional stroke. Procedures included vertebral artery decompression (n = 6), endovascular stent and spinal fusion (n = 1), and vertebral artery endovascular occlusion (n = 1). In boys treated with decompression, cervical soft tissue abnormalities (ruptured atlantoaxial bursa, ruptured joint capsule, or connective tissue scarring) were directly visualized during open surgery. No other etiology for stroke or dissection was found in any of the cases. Two boys without recurrent stroke were treated with activity restriction and antithrombotics. At a median follow-up of 51 months (range 17–84), there have been no additional recurrences.ConclusionsChildren with V3 segmental vertebral arteriopathy frequently have stroke recurrence despite antithrombotics. Cervical bone imaging and angiography with neck rotation can identify underlying pathology.

scholarly journals Fusion for subaxial bow hunter’s syndrome results in remote osseous remodeling of the hyperostotic growth responsible for vertebral artery compression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Daniel Satoshi Ikeda ◽  
Charles A. Miller ◽  
Vijay M. Ravindra
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Complete Resolution ◽  
Dynamic Compression ◽  
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ◽  
The Right ◽  
Vertebral Artery Compression ◽  
Hunter's Syndrome

Background: The authors present a previously unreported case of a patient with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) who developed bow hunter’s syndrome (BHS) or positional vertebrobasilar insufficiency. In addition, the authors demonstrate angiographic evidence of remote osseous remodeling after segmental fusion without direct decompression of the offending bony growth. BHS is a rare, yet well established, cause of posterior circulation ischemia and ischemic stroke. Several etiologies such as segmental instability and spondylosis have been described as causes, however, DISH has not been associated with BHS before this publication. Case Description: A 77-year-old man who presented with BHS was found to have cervical spine changes consistent with DISH, and angiography confirmed right vertebral artery (VA) stenosis at C4–5 from a large pathological elongation of the right C5 lateral mass. Head rotation resulted in occlusion of the VA. The patient underwent an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and reported complete resolution of his symptoms. A delayed angiogram and CT of the cervical spine demonstrated complete resolution of the baseline stenosis, no dynamic compression, and remote osseous remodeling of the growth, respectively. Conclusion: This case represents the first publication in the literature of DISH as a causative etiology of BHS and of angiographic data demonstrating resolution of a compressive osseous pathology without direct decompression in BHS.

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