Decompression of vertebral artery in cases of cervical spondylosis.

In four cases with symptoms of vertebral artery insufficiency, compression of the artery was abolished by removing the adjacent cervical osteoarthritic spurs. However, total relief could be achieved only by incision and resection of the constricting fibrotic ring around the vertebral artery. This periarterial fibrotic tissue appears to play a role in the pathogenesis of symptoms.