Traumatic high flow vertebral-venous fistula presenting with delayed ischemic stroke: endovascular management with detachable coils and Amplatzer Vascular Plugs.

Penetrating injuries to the neck can result in a number of abnormalities that are of interest to neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists. Gunshot or stab wounds may cause damage to the cervical spinal cord, the adjacent osseous and ligamentous structures, and the peripheral or cranial nerves. In addition, a significant percentage of penetrating wounds to this location result in vascular injury. These may present insidiously or acutely and with a variety of symptoms. The authors present the case of a patient in whom an occipital lobe infarction developed roughly 2 months after the patient was struck in the neck by a bullet. He was found to have a complete transection of the left vertebral artery, with an associated vertebral-venous fistula. The fistula was eventually treated endovascularly with a combination of platinum coils and Amplatzer Vascular Plugs. The management is discussed, with specific emphasis on the technical aspects of the case.