Cerebellar infarction after minor neck trauma

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Blunt cerebrovascular injury (right vertebral artery dissection) and right cerebellar infarction following minor neck trauma with C3 fracture (n=1). Intervention: Dual antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid) and conservative cervical immobilization with a rigid collar. Primary outcome: Fracture healing and clinical management of blunt cerebrovascular injury.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Conservative cervical immobilization combined with dual antiplatelet therapy successfully manages vertebral artery dissection and promotes cervical fracture healing following blunt cerebrovascular injury from minor neck trauma. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

Lasse Kristensen; Ronni Mikkelsen; Kristian Høy

doi:10.61409/v04260273

November 9, 2026Ugeskrift for LægerOpen Access

Cerebellar infarction after minor neck trauma

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Key result

Conservative cervical immobilization and dual antiplatelet therapy resulted in C3 fracture healing at 3 months in a 15-year-old boy with vertebral artery dissection and cerebellar infarction.

Why the study?

Minor neck trauma carries a risk of blunt cerebrovascular injury and subsequent cerebellar infarction, underscoring the importance of early CT angiography.

Key Points

To describe a case of delayed cerebellar infarction caused by vertebral artery dissection following minor cervical trauma from trampoline gymnastics.
Case report evaluating a 15-year-old boy who presented with neck pain after striking the edge of a trampoline, followed two days later by delayed neurological symptoms.
Diagnostic workup included cervical computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine, and CT angiography of the neck.
CT imaging identified a fracture of the right facet joint and an avulsion fracture of the anterior C3 vertebral body, along with a right-sided cerebellar infarct.
CT angiography demonstrated dissection of the right vertebral artery at the C6 level, consistent with blunt cerebrovascular injury.
Conservative management with cervical collar immobilization and dual antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid) resulted in a healed fracture at three-month follow-up.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

P

Population

1 15-year-old male patient with a nondisplaced C3 fracture, right vertebral artery dissection, and right cerebellar infarction following minor trampoline neck trauma, followed for 3 months.

I

Intervention

Conservative management with a rigid cervical collar for 3 months and dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of clopidogrel (300 mg loading dose, followed by 75 mg daily for 3 months) and acetylsalicylic acid (300 mg loading dose, followed by 75 mg daily for 6 months).

O

Outcome

Fracture healing and clinical recovery at 3 months, with planned follow-up angiography at 6 months.hard clinical

Limitations

Single-patient case report design limiting generalizability
Evidence for antiplatelet therapy in blunt cerebrovascular injury is primarily based on observational studies
Lack of consistent national Danish guidelines for blunt cerebrovascular injury screening

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Implication

This case report highlights that blunt cerebrovascular injury and subsequent cerebellar infarction can occur after minor neck trauma in adolescents, emphasizing the importance of early CT angiography screening in patients with high-risk cervical fractures or neurological symptoms.

Abstract

In this case report, a 15-year-old boy developed a cerebellar infarction following a nondisplaced C3 fracture after trampoline gymnastics. Initially presented with neck pain only, after two days he developed dizziness, headache, vomiting, and gait disturbance. CT showed a C3 fracture and cerebellar infarct. CT angiography revealed dissection of the right vertebral artery consistent with blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI). He was treated conservatively with cervical immobilization and antithrombotic therapy. The case highlights the risk of BCVI after minor neck trauma and the importance of early CT angiography.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Kristensen et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Blunt cerebrovascular injury (right vertebral artery dissection) and right cerebellar infarction following minor neck trauma with C3 fracture (n=1). Dual antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid) and conservative cervical immobilization with a rigid collar was evaluated on Fracture healing and clinical management of blunt cerebrovascular injury. Conservative cervical immobilization and dual antiplatelet therapy resulted in C3 fracture healing at 3 months in a 15-year-old boy with vertebral artery dissection and cerebellar infarction.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6af46da27bb3da179b850248 https://doi.org/10.61409/v04260273

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Cerebellar infarction after minor neck trauma

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Cerebellar infarction after minor neck trauma

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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