Traumatic vertebral artery dissection associated with cervical neck traction devices.

Abstract

Cervical arterial dissection (CAD) is a common cause of stroke in young people which can be classified as either spontaneous or traumatic. The primary initial symptoms are headache, neck pain, and dizziness. Recently, a 57-year-old woman experienced a severe headache after using a cervical neck traction device. Radiological examination of the head and neck revealed right vertebral artery dissection, which emphasizes the importance of recognizing that using cervical neck traction devices increases the risk of traumatic vertebral artery dissection.