Penetrating vertebral artery injury treated by combining the 'zone' approach and imaging tests: A case report

Patients with vertebral artery injury from penetrating neck trauma may not present with signs of vascular injury because of anatomical characteristics and concomitant conditions, such as hypothermia and shock. If patients are hemodynamically stable, imaging tests should be performed to examine the posterior components, including the vertebral artery.
Although the “zone” approach may be useful for the surgical treatment of injuries to the anterior components of the neck, the “no zone” approach using imaging techniques should be applied when searching for posterior components, including the vertebral artery.