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Episodic vertigo resulting from vascular risk factors, cervical spondylosis and head rotation: Two case reports
Authors Mayowa O Owolabi, Okechukwu S Ogah, Adesola Ogunniyi
Published 15 November 2007 Volume 2007:3(5) Pages 675—678
Mayowa O Owolabi1, Okechukwu S Ogah2, Adesola Ogunniyi3
1Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, PMB 5116, 200001, Ibadan, Nigeria; 2Federal Medical Center, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, PMB 3031 Sapon PO, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; 3Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
Background: Vascular risk factors predispose to vertebrobasilar ischemia. Cervical osteophytes can impinge on the vertebral artery causing mechanical occlusion during head turning. Presentation with vertigo in such instances is a common finding.
Case presentation: A patient with obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cervical spondylosis, and vertigo triggered by head rotation is presented. She responded to antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, vestibular sedative and application of cervical collar. The second patient also exhibited similar features and responded to conservative treatment.
Discussion and conclusions: Rotational vertebral artery occlusion resulting from cervical spondylosis in the presence of atherosclerosed collateral vessels is a cause of posterior circulation insufficiency manifesting as vertigo. The tetrad of vertigo resulting from vascular risk factors, cervical spondylosis, and head rotation is proposed for further research.
Keywords: cervical, vertigo, spondylosis, vertebrobasilar insufficiency