Isolated intracranial cerebral artery dissection associated with a competitive soccer match: A pediatric case report

Abstract

Stroke during sport activities is very rare in children. We report the case of an 11-year-old boy in whom, during a competitive soccer match, distal intracranial cerebral artery dissection caused acute left-side middle cerebral artery infarction. The risk of stroke in relation to sports in children is underestimated; however, because of the immaturity of the cervical spine in children, the intracranial cerebral vessels may press against the bony compartment of the upper cervical spine, which can lead to vascular damage during participation in sports. Therefore, emergency room clinicians must consider the possibility of stroke in children, who exhibit sudden onset of weakness, facial droop, and slurred speech during sports activities; early recognition may yield better outcomes.

Keywords

• intracranial cerebral artery dissection
• sports
• stroke