Sensorimotor C5 and C6 radiculopathy caused by thrombosed vertebral artery dissection and successfully treated with limited oblique corpectomy – Case report

The authors report the case of an exceptional presentation of vertebral artery dissection. A 44-year-old man who presented with left shoulder weakness, radicular pain and numbness of the left forearm and thumb was admitted to our hospital with an initial diagnosis of cervical disc herniation. Due to the inconsistency between the levels of radiculopathy (C5 and C6) and discopathy (C6–C7), neuroimaging examinations were extended. Based on MRI, MRA, CTA and DSA, left vertebral artery dissection with intramural hematoma was diagnosed. The patient underwent surgical decompression of the affected nerve roots using the anterolateral approach described by Bernard George. The radicular pain resolved immediately and sensorimotor deficit completely disappeared within 4 months. MRI/MRA performed 6 months after surgery showed the normal image of the vertebral artery. There were no ischemic events within 2.5 years of follow-up.