[Ruptures and thromboses of the vertebral artery following closed mechanical injuries].

Five cases of occlusion of the vertebral artery in context with mechanical stress - from endogene reasons in one case - and lesions of the vessel walls (in three cases) are recorded. The inferior posterior cerebellar artery was involved in all cases. Variable ischemic lesions resulted in the medulla oblongata and in the cerebellum, which were survived up to four weeks in one case. In the others death occurred within few hours or suddenly and unexpectedly. Related neurological symptoms were absent in one case only. A chiropractic manipulation of the neck was the reason for the arterial insult in two cases.