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

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Cristian Illanes
Mariano Cubile
Sebastián Solsona
Verónica Herrero
Daniela Medina
Ayelén Estay

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 injurieshave not been observed.

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How to Cite
Illanes, C., Cubile, M., Solsona, S., Herrero, V., Medina, D., & Estay, A. (2022). Prevention, Management, and Monitoring of Vertebral Artery Injuries. Current State of Knowledge of Spine Surgeons in Argentina. 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
Section
Basic Research
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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