Traumatic vertebral artery dissection causing basilar artery occlusion

Acute basilar artery occlusion is a potentially fatal disease that can cause brainstem and cerebellar strokes. Traumatic vertebral artery dissection is one of the most common causes of basilar artery occlusion in young patients. We present the case of a 23-year-old woman with vertebral artery dissection complicated by basilar artery occlusion 4 days after a traffic accident that caused severe neurological deficits, cortical blindness. Computed tomographic angiography showed total occlusion of the basilar artery, and right vertebral artery dissection from the third to the fourth segments. Cranial MR examination confirmed the complete emollition of both visual cortices. We should always think about dissection of the vertebral artery in polytraumatized patients or when the head-neck region makes a sudden flexion-extension movement like torsion or whiplash. Extracranial vascular dissection can occur even without a fracture or injury to the skull and cervical spine. If basilar vessel occlusion is detected, radiological signs of vertebral artery dissection should always be sought.