Cervical Radiculopathy and Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency Secondary to Intraneural Foramen Vertebral Artery Loop: A Case Report

TL;DR

A 40-year-old man with neck pain and neurological symptoms was found to have a vertebral artery loop compressing a nerve, successfully treated with surgery.

Contribution

This case report highlights a rare cause of cervical radiculopathy and demonstrates successful surgical treatment.

Findings

A vertebral artery loop was identified as the cause of cervical radiculopathy and vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

Surgical decompression led to immediate pain relief and full recovery of symptoms within six months.

Abstract

This case report describes a 40-year-old male who presented with chronic neck pain radiating to the left upper limb, associated with weakness and numbness. He also had symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Imaging revealed an intraneural foramen vertebral artery (VA) loop compressing the C3 nerve root. Conservative management was ineffective, prompting surgical decompression via a left C2-C3 facetectomy and foraminotomy. The patient experienced immediate pain relief and gradual improvement in weakness, with complete resolution of symptoms at the six-month follow-up. This case highlights the potential for VA loops to cause radiculopathy and the successful use of surgical decompression for treatment.

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