Preferential location for arterial dissection presenting as golf-related stroke

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2014 Feb;35(2):323-6. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A3768. Epub 2013 Nov 1.

Abstract

Golf-related stroke has not been systematically reviewed. The purpose of our study was to describe in detail this particular stroke syndrome. Seven patients were analyzed at a university hospital and 7 patients were reviewed from MEDLINE literature. General demographics, symptom onset, neurologic signs, radiologic findings, and outcome were investigated. A total of 14 patients including 7 patients from the MEDLINE search were analyzed; all were men, with a mean age of 46.9 ± 12.8 years. Symptom onset was classified as during the golf swing (n = 9), unknown (n = 3), and after playing golf (n = 2). Most patients (n = 12) showed involvement of the vertebral artery and 2 patients showed involvement of the internal carotid artery (P = .008). Nine dissections were found on the right side, 3 on the left side, and 2 were bilateral (P = .046). Twelve patients had extracranial involvement and 2 patients had intracranial involvement (P = .008). Seven patients returned to normal, 5 returned to independence, 1 had unknown status, and 1 died. The anatomic preference of golf-related craniocervical arterial dissection is associated with the extracranial and vertebrobasilar system with a right-sided tendency as the result of stereotypical rotational movement during a golf swing.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Angiography / methods
  • Aortic Dissection / diagnosis*
  • Athletic Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Golf / injuries*
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / diagnosis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity