Arterial Injuries in the Neck Secondary to Headbanging

 

Headbanging consists of violent back-and-forth, up-and-down or rotational head movements matching a music's rapid tempo.

 

Injuries may affect:

(1) internal or external carotid artery

(2) vertebral artery

 

Injuries may take the form of:

(1) dissection

(2) aneurysm

(3) thrombosis

 

Risk factors for arterial injuries:

(1) disorder of the connective tissue

(2) arteriosclerosis (associated with older age, hypertension, etc)

(3) extreme headbanging

 

Complications of the arterial hemorrhage:

(1) stroke

(2) loss of consciousness or coma

 

Diagnosis requires exclusion of other causes of arterial injury such as blunt trauma to the neck or a motor-vehicle accident.