Nystagmus in Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection Caused by Golf Swing

Nystagmus in Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection Caused by Golf Swing

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) during a golf swing is extremely rare. Golfrelated VAD has been reported to occur more commonly at extracranial segments on the right side. In the present study, we report a 57-year-old, right-handed, female amateur golfer with golf-related VAD which developed at the intracranial segment (V4) of the left vertebral artery. The patient complained of sudden vertigo with nausea and vomiting, and aggravation of the left tinnitus. Video oculography showed very weakly left- and upbeating spontaneous nystagmus. The intensity of nystagmus was increased by positioning such as bowing, lying down or right head-rolling. The patient was treated with oral aspirin, and complete recanalization of the left vertebral artery was observed in a follow-up imaging study.

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) during a golf swing is extremely rare. Golfrelated VAD has been reported to occur more commonly at extracranial segments on the right side. In the present study, we report a 57-year-old, right-handed, female amateur golfer with golf-related VAD which developed at the intracranial segment (V4) of the left vertebral artery. The patient complained of sudden vertigo with nausea and vomiting, and aggravation of the left tinnitus. Video oculography showed very weakly left- and upbeating spontaneous nystagmus. The intensity of nystagmus was increased by positioning such as bowing, lying down or right head-rolling. The patient was treated with oral aspirin, and complete recanalization of the left vertebral artery was observed in a follow-up imaging study.