EC Neurology

Vertebral artery arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are rare vascular anomalies that affect the blood supply to the spinal cord. They are divided into two groups: spontaneous and traumatic, resulting from various events such as cervical surgery, central venous catheterization, chiropractic manipulations, diagnostic cerebral angiography, percutaneous nerve blocks, radiotherapy, penetrating trauma, or, less commonly, blunt trauma. Symptoms are typically related to compression effects, manifesting as extensive myelopathy caused by spinal cord compression. Radiculopathy may also occur due to compression of nerve roots or possibly increased intracranial pressure. In cases of significant arteriovenous shunting, blood steal can occur, leading to cerebral or cerebellar ischemia.

We report the case of a 22-year-old patient with a vertebral AVF causing mass effect on the cervical spinal cord, following a late-presenting blunt trauma without bone injury, spinal cord contusion, ligamentous anomaly, or other associated lesions.

This AVF was treated endovascularly by closing the arteriovenous shunt.

 Keywords: Vertebral Arteriovenous Fistula (VAVF); Spinal Vascular Malformations; Trauma; Paraparesis

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