Prevention, Management, and Monitoring of Vertebral Artery Injuries. Current State of Knowledge of Spine Surgeons in Argentina

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2022.87.1.1382

Keywords:

Vertebral artery, cervical spine, complications

Abstract

Introduction: Vertebral artery injury is a serious event. The objective of this work is to evaluate the degree of knowledge of spinal surgeons in Argentina regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic measures of vertebral artery injury.

Materials and Methods: An observational descriptive study was carried out through a survey transmitted through AANC and SAPCV.

Results: Of 157 responses, 47.4% consider it relevant to evaluate the anatomy of the vertebral artery in all types of pathology by angiographic methods. Half of those surveyed diagnosed an anatomical variant of the artery, 29.2% reported having encountered an artery injury during their practice and only 35% had an action protocol for the management of this adverse event. 77% adopted tamponade as their first measure. In the postoperative follow-up, the majority of surgeons studied the final state of the situation using angiographic methods. Around 10% would try to establish some measure of antithrombotic prophylaxis. 76.6% have an hemodynamics service with an endovascular surgeon.

Conclusion: We found an underestimation of this complication. Less than half of surgeons routinely use diagnostic tools for possible anatomical changes. Management or monitoring protocols for these injuries
have not been observed.

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Author Biographies

  • Cristian Illanes, Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Provincial “Dr. Eduardo Castro Rendón”, Neuquén, Argentina

    Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Provincial “Dr. Eduardo Castro Rendón”, Neuquén, Argentina

  • Mariano Cubile, Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Provincial “Dr. Eduardo Castro Rendón”, Neuquén, Argentina

    Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Provincial “Dr. Eduardo Castro Rendón”, Neuquén, Argentina

  • Sebastián Solsona, Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Provincial “Dr. Eduardo Castro Rendón”, Neuquén, Argentina

    Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Provincial “Dr. Eduardo Castro Rendón”, Neuquén, Argentina

  • Verónica Herrero, Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Provincial “Dr. Eduardo Castro Rendón”, Neuquén, Argentina

    Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Provincial “Dr. Eduardo Castro Rendón”, Neuquén, Argentina

  • Daniela Medina, Spine Pathology Unit, Traumatología del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina

    Spine Pathology Unit, Traumatología del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina

  • Ayelén Estay, Traumatology Service, Hospital Regional de Chos Malal “Dr. Gregorio Álvarez”, Chos Malal, Neuquén, Argentina

    Traumatology Service, Hospital Regional de Chos Malal “Dr. Gregorio Álvarez”, Chos Malal, Neuquén, Argentina

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Published

2022-02-14

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Section

Basic Research

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How to Cite

Prevention, Management, and Monitoring of Vertebral Artery Injuries. Current State of Knowledge of Spine Surgeons in Argentina. (2022). Revista de la Asociación Argentina de Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 87(1), 85-88. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2022.87.1.1382

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