# Cerebellar Infarction from a Vertebral Artery Dissection after Blunt Chest Injury: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A man suffered a rare stroke from a vertebral artery dissection after a blunt chest injury, highlighting the importance of early detection.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the risk of delayed diagnosis in traumatic vertebral artery dissections following blunt chest trauma.

## Key findings

- A 30-year-old male developed a cerebellar stroke six hours after a blunt chest injury.
- Up to 80% of blunt cerebrovascular injuries may be delayed or missed due to asymptomatic presentation.
- Early suspicion and awareness are crucial for diagnosing vascular injuries following trauma.

## Abstract

Traumatic vertebral artery dissections resulting in stroke are relatively rare occurrences, especially in the absence of classic physical examination findings.

We present the case of a 30-year-old male with chest pain following a car axle falling onto his chest while trying to change a tire. He was discharged from the emergency department after having a negative workup for thoracic injury. Six hours later, the patient returned with headache and was found to have a cerebellar stroke secondary to vertebral artery dissection. After hospitalization, the patient was discharged home without any neurological deficits.

As they are usually asymptomatic, up to 80% of patients with blunt cerebrovascular injury will have delayed or missed diagnoses. Given the increased awareness of vascular injuries and their high morbidity, physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for this diagnosis.