Direct Vertebral Artery Decompression for Treatment of Bowhunter's Syndrome
Abstract
We present a young man with Bowhunter’s syndrome manifesting as faintness and agitation triggered by rightward head rotation. Dynamic angiography revealed near-complete occlusion of the dominant left V3 segment with head turning, in the setting of a hypoplastic contralateral vertebral artery. He underwent far lateral exploration of the left V3 with release of a constricting ligamentous band and bony decompression of C1. Postoperative angiography confirmed decompression with preserved flow, and his symptoms completely resolved. Publication History Article published online: 27 February 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cerebrovascular and Carotid Artery Diseases
Vascular anomalies and interventions
Cervical and Thoracic Myelopathy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B Skull Base
- Volume
- 87
- Issue
- S 01
- Pages
- S1–S548
- Publication date
- 27 February 2026
- Language
- EN