Mild trauma causing cervical fracture through transverse foramen leading to a vertebral arteriovenous fistula

Vertebral arteriovenous fistula (vAVF) is an uncommon vascular disease defined as abnormal connections between the vertebral artery or its branches extracranially with nearby venous structures. This case report outlines the case of a man in his late 70s presenting with C1–C3 fractures after a mild trauma falling down a small staircase. CT angiogram (CTA) gave suspicion of vertebral artery dissection and pseudoaneurysm; however, digital subtraction angiography revealed a fracture-induced vAVF successfully treated endovascularly with coils. In conclusion, cervical fractures involving the transverse foramen regardless of trauma mechanism should result in a CTA. Endovascular treatment with ipsilateral vertebral artery closure is preferred due to its feasibility and safety.

Case Report: Multi-Orifices Vertebral Arteriovenous Fistula With Severe Scoliosis in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Might Be a Congenital Disease With Mesodermal Dysplasia

Background: Vertebral arteriovenous fistula (AVF) associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is a rare condition in the previous reports. However, whether vertebral AVF in NF-1 is congenital or NF-1 disease progression hasn't been clarified.Case Description: We reported a 48-year-old male case of vertebral AVF simultaneously combined with thoracic scoliosis and NF-1. Preoperative CT angiography showed the AVF with multiple orifices located on the vessel wall of the vertebral artery, which was proved during the procedure of endovascular treatment. By occluding the parent vertebral artery, the AVF was finally cured. Further whole-exome sequencing identified a novel germline heterozygous point nonsense mutation, c.G397T(p.E133X), in the NF1(NM_000267) gene exon4.Conclusions: From this patient, we speculate that vertebral AVF associated with NF-1 might be a congenital disease as a manifestation of mesodermal dysplasia.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 with subarachnoid haemorrhage from the left vertebral arteriovenous fistula: case presentation and literature review

We present the case of a 47-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) from the left vertebral arteriovenous fistula, along with a review of previous cases. Our patient had a family history of NF1 and presented to the emergency department with a sudden-onset severe headache and neck pain. CT scan showed SAH. CT angiography revealed a left vertebral arteriovenous fistula and an epidural haematoma. She underwent direct surgery and was discharged without neurologic deficits. To our knowledge, this is the first case of SAH caused by perimedullary drainage of a vertebral arteriovenous fistula associated with NF1. In a literature search, we identified 40 cases of vertebral arteriovenous fistula associated with NF1. The majority of vertebral arteriovenous fistulas occurred on the left side and in women. Patients with vertebral arteriovenous fistula typically experience neck pain, radiculopathy, radiculomyelopathy and bruits.