Anatomic variation of the vertebral artery

The Spine Journal

Volume 16, Issue 11, November 2016, Page e737

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Vascular complications in spine surgery
2019, Seminars in Spine Surgery
Citation Excerpt :
However, surgeons may experience difficulty identifying bony landmarks in degenerative cases with substantial osteophytosis. Furthermore, anomalous vertebral arteries which deviate more medial than normal have been described.16–18,23–25 Such anatomic variability has led some authors to suggest preoperative CT angiography for complex anterior cases including corpectomies.25
Vascular complications in spine surgery are rare but potentially devastating events. They may occur during surgery in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbo-sacral regions of the spine, and all operative approaches present at least some risk. Some complications are highly specific to various approaches and/or procedures. Meticulous surgical technique, careful preoperative planning, and familiarity with normal and anomalous vascular anatomy may minimize the risk of complications. Spine surgeons should be knowledgeable regarding specific and general vascular complications as early recognition and timely treatment may prevent poor patient outcomes.

: Author disclosures: JAS-G: Nothing to disclose. EB-P: Nothing to disclose. CL-M: Nothing to disclose. FM-E: Nothing to disclose.