Traumatic rupture of intracranial vertebral artery due to hyperextension of the head: reports on three cases.

In three cases of fatal basal subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of the normal intracranial vertebral artery, the ruptures appeared to have been caused by overstretching of the vertebral artery from traumatic hyperextension of the head. In the first case, that of a 31-year-old male pedestrian who, while intoxicated, had been hit from behind by a car, symmetrically located bilateral complete and incomplete tearing of the vertebral arteries was found. In both of the other two cases, involving women aged 37 and 51 found dead after receiving fist blows to the face while intoxicated, complete rupture of the vertebral artery was found. The blood alcohol concentrations of the three cases ranged from 1.6 to 1.7 mg/g at autopsy.