Spasmodic torticollis caused by vascular compression of the spinal accessory root.

A case of spasmodic torticollis in a 27-year-old man cured by vascular decompression of the spinal accessory root, without any nerve sectioning, is presented. The nerve compression was produced by the posterior inferior cerebellar artery originating from the vertebral artery at the C-1 level, and was released by transposing the artery from the nerve root, using the divided dentate ligament. The patient was completely free from symptoms after a follow-up period of 3 years. The possible causal importance of nerve compression in spasmodic torticollis is emphasized.