Chiropractic Risks
Adverse events associated with spinal manipulation. Regarding neck manipulation, the risk/benefit ratio for the procedure appears to be in question due to the availability of safer options. NOTE: In the UK, there appears to be no publicised national system for reporting adverse events related to chiropractic treatment. Furthermore, the UK General Chiropractic Council's current promotional literature appears to make no mention of serious risks. This page was revised on 17th January 2012. Related links |
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Who to contact if you've been injured by a chiropractor What's the harm in going to a chiropractor?Reports of people seriously injured or killed by chiropractic treatment. Is a headache worth dying for?Two-minute video presentation about neck manipulation and stroke. Death Certificate and Autopsy Report of 30 year-old marathon runner, Jeremy YoungbloodHis family claims that during his chiropractic appointment, Youngblood began vomiting and sweating profusely. The medical examiner said he later died from a stroke caused by manipulation of the neck. (June 2011) Death certificate of a chiropractic patient who died as the result of neck manipulationThe death certificate of 39-year-old John Hoffman whose stroke occurred around 3 hours after having a neck adjustment at his chiropractor’s office. He died 6 days later. [pdf –possibly slow to load] Locked In — Chiropractic adjustment gone wrongThe true story of chiropractic victim, Scott Tatro. His book was completely compiled by using a mouth/headstick to type. Serious complications associated with neck manipulationDozens of medical literature case reports of adverse events, including stroke and death, associated with neck manipulation. US: Chiropractic groups sued by stroke victimsVictims of Chiropractic Abuse, Inc. (VOCA) has initiated a class-action lawsuit charging the Connecticut Chiropractic Council, the Connecticut Chiropractic Association, and their members with knowing that neck manipulations are associated with strokes and can cause stroke but refusing to inform patients of the risks in order to maximize profits. The suit also accuses the chiropractors of employing a strategy of misrepresentations or omissions designed to mislead patients by violating state laws that require they clearly identify themselves as chiropractors in advertising and marketing materials when using the title of "Doctor". VOCA is seeking financial damages; an injunction forbidding the use of the deceptive tactics; and other equitable relief, including but not limited to an order requiring chiropractors who have engaged in these deceptive tactics to pay appropriate fines. The suit was filed immediately after the Connecticut State Board of Chiropractic Examiners refused to grant VOCA's request to order chiropractors to warn patients that neck manipulation entails a risk of stroke. Craniocervical arterial dissection in children: diagnosis and treatment
“If the history is suspicious for dissection (head and neck trauma, recent cervical Spinal cord injury following chiropractic manipulation to the neck“This case report describes a 50-year-old man who developed neurological symptoms a few hours after manipulation (high velocity low amplitude [HVLA] technique) of the cervical spine. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cervical spine revealed intramedullary high signal at the C2/3 level of the right side of the cervical cord on the T2-weighted images. The potential mechanism of injury and causes of the radiological appearance are discussed.” Source: Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Acta Radiol. (24th October 2011) Craniocervical arterial dissections as sequelae of chiropractic manipulation: patterns of injury and managementThis authoritative study finds that chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine is a known cause of craniocervical arterial dissections: “These injuries can be severe, requiring endovascular stenting and cranial surgery. In this patient series, a significant percentage (31%, 4/13) of patients were left permanently disabled or died as a result of their arterial injuries.” Journal of Neurosurgery (16th September 2011) Risk factors and clinical features of craniocervical arterial dissection“Craniocervical arterial dissection is one of the most common causes of ischaemic stroke in young people and is occasionally associated with neck manipulation. Identification of individuals at risk will guide risk management…Mild mechanical trauma to the head and neck was significantly associated with craniocervical arterial dissection (OR 23.53). Cardiovascular risk factors for stroke were less evident in the dissection group (3)”. Manual Therapy (August 2011) Cauda equina syndrome and spine manipulation: case report and review of the literature“We observed and treated a 42-year-old patient who complained a rapid onset of saddle hypoparesthesia and urine retention only a few hours after the spinal manipulation performed for L5-S1 herniated disc. The comparison of the two following MRIs performed before and after the manipulations seems to prove a close pathogenetic relationship.” Tamburrelli FC, Genitiempo M, Logroscino CA. European Spine Journal (15th March 2011) Reports of deaths after chiropractic treatment "about three times the number of deaths from trovafloxacin, an excellent antibiotic abandoned in the U.S. as too dangerous”Mark Crislip, MD, Science Based Medicine (31st December 2010) Acute spinal epidural haematoma causing cord compression after chiropractic neck manipulation: an under-recognised serious hazard?“Spinal manipulative therapy performed by chiropractors is increasingly common in the United Kingdom. Spinal epidural haematoma is a rare complication of such physical therapy but when identified represents a neurological emergency. We describe the case of a 64 year-old man who presented with a dense hemiplegia due to a spinal epidural haematoma following cervical spine manipulation performed for acute neck pain. The clinical features and surgical management of the case are discussed and we stress the importance of recognition of chiropractic manipulation as a potential cause of neurological sequelae and discuss the potential pitfalls of such therapy as it becomes more widespread.” J R Army Med Corps (December 2010) Vertebral Artery Dissection After Iatrogenic Cervical Subcutaneous Emphysema“VADs are associated with a variety of minor traumatic mechanisms including painting a ceiling, yoga, chiropractic manipulation of the spine, and driving. These events cause injury to the vessel wall either by shearing forces secondary to rotational injuries or direct trauma to the vessel wall on bony prominences, especially the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae.” J Card Surg. (14th November 2010) Withdrawal rates as a consequence of disclosure of risk associated with manipulation of the cervical spine: a surveyOnly 45% of chiropractic respondents in this study indicated they always discussed risk with patients in need of cervical manipulation. When asked whether they believed discussing the possibility of a serious adverse reaction to cervical manipulation could increase patient anxiety to the extent there was a strong possibility the patient would refuse treatment, 46% said they believed this could happen. Jennifer Langworthy and Lianne Forrest, Chiropractic & Osteopathy (October 2010) Bilateral Vertebral Artery Dissection After Chiropractic Maneuver“Clinical evidence strongly supports the notion that the dissection occurred during the maneuver since an MRI scan prior to the manipulation showed a protruded intervertebral disk and intact cervical vessels.” Clinical Neuroradiology (20th October 2010) [FULL TEXT - pdf] Serious adverse events after spinal manipulation: a systematic review of the Korean literature“It is concluded that adverse effects after spinal manipulation are not specific to chiropractic but occur with most types of spinal manipulation. Incidence figures can, however, not be derived from the data available to date.” Byung-Cheul Shin, Myeong Soo Lee, Tae-Yong Park, and Edzard Ernst, Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies (Volume 15, Issue 3, pages 198–201, September 2010) Does upper spinal manipulation cause vascular accidents?“…based on the totality of the best evidence available to date, there can be little doubt that the formal criteria for causality are, in fact, fulfilled, and that upper spinal manipulation is the cause of vascular accidents. Moreover, the Cassidy study is seriously, some would say fatally, flawed. Finally, there are several case-control studies that contradict its findings; so the totality of the evidence from case-control studies does suggest that upper spinal manipulation is risky. Even if one conceded that there is still reasonable doubt about this question, responsible and ethical healthcare professionals have to subscribe to the precautionary principle. Neck manipulation is not of proven therapeutic value for any condition. Therefore, we have to err on the safe side. Put bluntly, this means that, until the matter is settled, we should not routinely use or recommend upper spinal manipulation. At the very minimum, we should only do so after fully informed consent.” Edzard Ernst, Pulse (27th July 2010) [Free registration] Deaths after chiropractic: a review of published cases (FULL TEXT)"Twenty six fatalities were published in the medical literature and many more might have remained unpublished. The alleged pathology usually was a vascular accident involving the dissection of a vertebral artery. Conclusion: Numerous deaths have occurred after chiropractic manipulations. The risks of this treatment by far outweigh its benefit. Edzard Ernst, Int. Journal of Clinical Practice, Vol. 64 Issue 8, Pages 1162-1165 (16th June 2010) [pdf] Deaths after chiropractic spinal manipulations: a reply [Prof. E. Ernst Int J Clin Pract. July 2011]
To the Editor: "This response (1) confirms that many chiropractors find it impossible to accept the key messages regarding spinal manipulation therapy (SMT), namely that this therapy lacks a plausible rationale (2) and its risks outweigh its benefits (3). The risks are, of course, far greater than the relatively few deaths seem to imply. Several hundred cases of severe but non-fatal adverse events are on record (e.g. 4,5). The benefits of SMT have, so far, not been demonstrated; even the many chiropractors who criticised my review (6–12), have not produced convincing evidence for such benefit. Why? The answer is simple: there is none! In the most recent Cochrane review of SMT for chronic low back pain, the main indication for chiropractors, concluded that ‘there is no clinically relevant difference between SMT and other interventions for reducing pain’ (13). For all other conditions, the evidence is even more squarely negative (14). If we focus on the bigger picture, we are confronted with balancing little benefit with considerable risks. The result of such an evaluation can never be positive – no matter how we turn and twist the complex details of this debate.” Acute paraplegia after chiropraxis“We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who suffered complete paraplegia shortly after a chiropractic maneuver in the thoracic spine. Dorsal CT showed a calcified disc herniation at the T8-T9 level and MRI revealed a diffuse spinal cord ischemia from T6 to the conus medullaris without spinal cord compression at the level of herniation. Despite a normal arteriography, authors suggest a vascular injury as the cause of the deficit.” European Spine Journal (16th June 2010) Cervical Artery Dissection: Emerging Risk Factors“Cervical artery dissection (CAD) represents an increasingly recognized cause of stroke and the most common cause of ischemic stroke in young adults…known risks factors for CAD are major head/neck trauma like chiropractic maneuver…” Open Neurol J. (June 2010) Letter from Britt Harwe, President, Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Group (CSAG)“… the National Quality Forum lists 28 ‘never events’ healthcare mistakes that should never happen and need to be reported. Death or serious disability from spinal manipulation is listed as no. 16. But chiropractors do not have to report this because they have a loophole. The National Quality Forum demands it of clinics and hospitals but no reporting is mandated for individual doctor’s offices where 99% of spinal manipulation is done. Chiropractors generally do not practise in hospitals or clinics. Therefore, there is no accurate reporting for injuries that occur as a result of spinal manipulation. Yet we have hundreds of victims who have suffered needless injuries due to a stroke as a direct result of a chiropractic manipulation, and they are horrible, permanent injuries and they happen to mostly young healthy people under the age of 45 years.” Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies (March 2010) Cervical intradural disc herniation after spinal manipulation therapy in a patient with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament: a case report and review of the literature“Spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) is often used by people with neck pain or discomfort as an alternative therapy due to its claimed less invasiveness and comparable efficacy. However, excessive manipulations are reported to cause rare but serious complications such as tetraplegia, vertebral artery dissection, epidural hematoma, and phrenic nerve injury.” Spine (March 2010) Vascular accidents after chiropractic spinal manipulation: Myth or reality?"The association between chiropractic neck manipulation and vascular accidents is well established. A recent case control study, however, casts doubt on the notion that the association is caused by nature. A detailed critique of that study reveals several weaknesses. Therefore the balance of probabilities seems to indicate that the association, in fact, is causal." Professor Edzard Ernst, review and opinion published in Perfusion (February 2010) [pdf] Professor Ernst defends himself against accusations of bias, particularly relating to his critical assessments of chiropractic, in this January 2011 interview with On The Other Hand podcast host and chiropractor, Brett Kinsler. [Transcript.] Catastrophic complication of chiropractic manipulation: A report of quadriparesis"Spinal manipulative therapy is a frequently applied therapy for back and neck pain. Carotid and vertebral artery trauma, cerebellar and brainstem stroke, fracture of odontoid process, and atlantoaxial dislocation due to chiropractic manipulation have been reported in the literature. We report an occurrence of quadriparesis after chiropractic manipulation...We believe that the manipulation in this patient led to the para central C6-C7 disc protrusion and subsequent quadriparesis due to temporal association with the maneuver, clinical plausibility, and lack of alternate explanation. Although the absolute risk due to neck manipulation is small, the risk-to-benefit ratio of manipulation for neck pain and prolapsed disc is unacceptably high." American Journal of Medicine (November 2009) [FULL TEXT] A case report of a healthy pregnant female who presented to the emergency department with a cervical epidural hematoma resulting from chiropractic spinal manipulation therapyAmerican Journal of Emergency Medicine (October 2009) Neck Manipulation: Risk vs. Benefit"While manipulation of any kind has the potential to cause injury, stroke caused by neck manipulation is of greatest concern. Risk must always be weighed against benefit when upper neck manipulation is considered. Risk of stroke caused by neck manipulation is statistically low, but the risk is serious enough to outweigh benefit in all but a few rare, carefully selected cases…When the RAND (Research and Development) organization published its review of the literature on cervical spine manipulation and mobilization in 1996, it concluded that only about 11.1% of reported indications for cervical spine manipulation were appropriate...Since about 90% of manipulation in the United States is done by chiropractors who use spinal manipulation as a primary treatment for a variety of health problems, neck manipulation is more problematic among chiropractors than among physical therapists and other practitioners who use manipulation only occasionally in the treatment of selected musculoskeletal problems...All things considered, manual rotation of the cervical spine beyond its normal range of movement is rarely justified. The neck should never be manipulated to correct an asymptomatic "chiropractic subluxation" or an undetectable "vertebral subluxation complex" for the alleged purpose of restoring or maintaining health or to relieve symptoms not located or originating in the neck. There is no evidence that such subluxations exist." Article by Sam Homola, DC, Science Based Medicine (27th August 2009) Adverse Effects of Chiropractic"There is a very good chance that you will feel worse after seeing a chiropractor. According to a new systematic review [see link immediately below], serious complications of spinal manipulation are rare, but 33-60% of patients experience milder short-term adverse effects such as increased pain, radiation of pain, headaches, vertigo and even loss of consciousness." Article by Harriet Hall MD, Science Based Medicine (2nd June 2009) Safety of chiropractic interventions: a systematic reviewCONCLUSION: There is no robust data concerning the incidence or prevalence of adverse reactions after chiropractic. Further investigations are urgently needed to assess definite conclusions regarding this issue. Spine. 2009 May 15;34(11):E405-13 Chiropractic and Stroke: Evaluation of the paper 'Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care: Results of a Population-Based Case-Control and Case-Crossover Study', Spine: 2008 Feb 15;33(4 Suppl):S176-83; Cassidy JD, Boyle E, Côté P, He Y, Hogg-J"Table 3 has the smoking gun..…My conclusion, from reading the paper in its entirety, rather than the abstract, is that a population that should not have a stroke, the young, has a marked increase association with stroke 24 hours after visiting a chiropractor…..In real medicine, it takes less data than this to bring a drug under scrutiny to decide if the benefits are worth the potential risks of a therapy." Evaluation by Mark Crislip, MD, Science Based Medicine (17th July 2008) The evaluation also notes the following regarding neck manipulation force: “…in a good hanging, the victim should not strangle to death (1). A good hanging should be set up such that there is a fall just far enough so that the first and second vertebral bodies are separated, breaking the neck and quickly killing the victim. You do not want them to fall too far, as the head may come clean off and that is aesthetically unpleasant. Most people who die these days from hanging do not get a ‘good’ hanging; they suffocate at the end of a rope, a particularly gruesome way to die. The vertebral artery is often damaged in suicidal hanging (2); “The vertebral artery was shown to be injured quite frequently (rupture, intimal tear, sub-intimal hemorrhage), namely in one quarter of all cases, and indeed in more than half taking into account the perivascular bleeding.” This easy injury is in part due to mechanical reasons “The vertebral arteries appear to be particularly susceptible to injury in trauma of the cervical spine because of their close anatomical relationship to the spine” (3). A passive hanging (no drop) gives about 686 Newton’s of force around the neck for a 70 kg human. In chiropractic, “the mean force of all manual applications (is) 264 Newton’s and the mean force duration (is) 145 milliseconds (8)”. So a chiropractic neck manipulation, for a short period of time, can provide 38% the force of a hanging. And a bad hanging at that." MORE CRITICAL COMMENT:
I have a copy of the paper. If I am interpreting it correctly, a figure that stands out is that patients with VAD who are <45 are 12 times more likely than non-VAD persons to have attended a chiropractor within the previous 24 hours 95% CI (1.25-115.36). For chiropractic attendance within three days the figure is 3.33 (1.02-10.92), and the association remains up to 30 days Odds ratio 3.13 (1.48-6.63). There is NO such association for the over 45 age group -- 0.55 (0.16-1.85) for having seen a chiropractor within 24 hours. Chiropractor and stroke researcher, J. David Cassidy, admits he caused a stroke by giving an "adjustment"Video segment. [38 secs] However, in this March 2011 interview, J. D. Cassidy explains why he no longer believes that the neck manipulation that he administered caused the stroke. Chiropractic and stroke"Sometimes the damage is immediate and the patient collapses on the chiropractor's table. Sometimes mild symptoms start immediately and progress after the patient leaves the chiropractor's office. Sometimes the tear is a small one and it clots over; then days later the clot breaks loose, travels to the brain and causes a delayed stroke. By this time, the patient may not connect his sudden collapse to the previous visit to the chiropractor..…How often can a stroke be attributed to neck manipulation? We really don't know. Estimates have varied from one in ten million manipulations to one in 40,000. I should clarify that only one specific type of stroke, basilar stroke, has been linked to chiropractic. It has been estimated that about 20% of all basilar strokes are due to spinal manipulations. This would work out to about 1300 a year in the U.S. But we just don't know, because it has not been properly studied. Carotid artery strokes have also been reported after chiropractic treatments. Chiropractors do not follow up on every patient. Patients who have delayed strokes may never see their chiropractor again, so chiropractors would naturally tend to underestimate the risk. Many of these diagnoses are missed because the vertebral arteries are not typically examined on autopsy." Article by Harriet Hall MD, Science Based Medicine (29th April 2008) Does cervical manipulative therapy cause vertebral artery dissection and stroke?“Weak to moderately strong evidence exists to support causation between Cervical Manipulative Therapy (CMT) and Vertebral Arterial Dissection and associated stroke. Ultimately, the acceptable level of risk associated with a therapeutic intervention like CMT must be balanced against evidence of therapeutic efficacy. Further research, employing prospective cohort study designs, is indicated to uncover both the benefits and the harms associated with CMT.” The Neurologist (January 2008) [PDF] Intracranial hypotension and abducens palsy following upper spinal manipulationReport of cervical manipulation-induced intracranial hypotension with ophthalmoplegia. British Journal of Ophthalmology (2008) Chiropractic manipulation: Reasons for concern?"We report three cases of serious neurological adverse events in patients treated with chiropractic manipulation. The first case is a 41 years old woman who developed a vertebro-basilar stroke 48h after cervical manipulation. The second case represents a 68 years old woman who presented a neuropraxic injury of both radial nerves after three sessions of spinal manipulation. The last case is a 34 years old man who developed a cervical epidural haematoma after a chiropractic treatment for neck pain. In all three cases there were criteria to consider a causality relation between the neurological adverse events and the chiropractic manipulation. The described serious adverse events promptly recommend the implementation of a risk alert system." Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery (December 2007) Spinal manipulation: are the benefits worth the risks?"In conclusion, spinal manipulation is based on questionable pathological concepts and therefore lacks biological plausibility. Its risks may be considerable and its benefits have not been convincingly demonstrated in rigorous trials. What follows is sobering: the benefits of spinal manipulation do not seem worth the potential risks." Edzard Ernst, Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, Vol. 7, No. 11, Pages 1451-1452 (November 2007) Full text available via this link. Cervicothoracic epidural haematoma after chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy. Case report and review of the literature.The authors present the case of an adult woman, otherwise in good health, who developed Brown-Séquard syndrome after chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (CSMT). Journal of Neurosurgery. Spine (November 2007) Report of a young mother who suffered a stroke at the hands of a New Zealand chiropractor"In this case, the artery that dissected was a vertebral artery, which is more likely to be prone to dissection because of anatomy and the action of the neck manipulation. The personal injury was present within 9 days of treatment. Other than tension headaches, there is no reliable evidence to identify any underlying disease that would be implicated in the dissection of the artery. On balance, the personal injury is determined to have been caused by the neck manipulation performed on 09/11/2007." Adverse effects of spinal manipulation: a systematic review"Conclusions: Spinal manipulation, particularly when performed on the upper spine, is frequently associated with mild to moderate adverse effects. It can also result in serious complications such as vertebral artery dissection followed by stroke. Currently, the incidence of such events is not known. In the interest of patient safety we should reconsider our policy towards the routine use of spinal manipulation." Edzard Ernst, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (July 2007) (J R Soc Med 2007;100:06-0100.1-9) Lumbar epidural hematoma after chiropractic manipulation for lower-back pain: case reportThe first case report of a lumbar epidural hematoma after chiropractic manipulation. Concludes that even rare complications after chiropractic manipulation of the spine should be weighed against potential benefits of such treatment. Neurosurgery (July 2007) Cervical spine manipulation: an alternative medical procedure with potentially fatal complications"There are multiple reports in the literature of serious and at times fatal complications after cervical spine manipulation therapy (CSMT), even though CSMT is considered by some health providers to be an effective and safe therapeutic procedure for head and neck pain syndromes." Leon-Sanchez A, Cuetter A, Ferrer G, Southern Medical Journal (February 2007) Adverse Events Associated With Pediatric Spinal Manipulation: A Systematic ReviewResearchers found 14 significant injuries, 9 of which were serious, and 2 children died. In one of the fatal cases, the child died from a brain hemorrhage after receiving a neck manipulation; in the other, the child died after a suspected neck fracture. Some children suffered paralysis, while others had less serious or minor problems, such as severe headache and back pain. A chiropractor performed the adjustments in most cases. The reviewers commented that despite the fact that spinal manipulation is widely used on children, paediatric safety data are virtually non-existent. [NOTE: The article did not consider harmful aspects of chiropractic care that are far more common than the reported events. These include (a) decreased use of immunisation due to misinformation given to parents, (b) psychologic harm related to unnecessary treatment, (c) psychologic harm caused by exposure to false chiropractic beliefs about "subluxations," and (d) financial harm due to unnecessary treatment.] Sunita Vohra, MD, FRCPC, MSc, Bradley C. Johnston, ND, Kristie Cramer, MSc and Kim Humphreys, DC, PhD, Pediatrics (January 2007) Intracranial hypotension syndrome following chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spineConcludes that cervical spine manipulation should be considered a treatment with risk of neurological complications, including the occurrence of intracranial hypotension. The Journal of Headache and Pain (August 2006) Acute paraplegia following chiropractic therapyJournal of Clinical Neuroscience (June 2006) Vertebral artery dissections after chiropractic neck manipulation in Germany over three years36 patients (mean age 40+11 years) with vertebral artery dissections associated with chiropractic neck manipulation were identified in neurological departments at university hospitals in Germany. 90% of patients admitted to hospital showed focal neurological deficits and among these 11% had a reduced level of consciousness. 50% of subjects were discharged after 20+/-14 hospital days with focal neurological deficits, one patient died and one was in a persistent vegetative state. Risk factors associated with artery dissections (e.g. fibromuscular dysplasia) were present in only 25% of subjects. Reuter U, Hamling M, Kavuk I, Einhaupl K M, Schielke E; for the German vertebral artery dissection study group. Journal of Neurology (March 2006) [pdf] Vertebral artery dissection and cerebellar infarction following chiropractic manipulationEmergency Medicine Journal (January 2006) Nonvascular complications following spinal manipulation"Spinal manipulation can be associated with significant complications, often requiring surgical intervention." The Spine Journal (Nov-Dec 2005) Ophthalmological adverse effects of (chiropractic) upper spinal manipulation: evidence from recent case reportsConclusion: Upper spinal manipulation is associated with ophthalmological adverse effects of unknown frequency. Ophthalmologists should be aware of its risks. Rigorous investigations must be conducted to establish reliable incidence figures. Edzard Ernst, Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica (September 2005) Pain in the neck"…the best options for neck pain are fairly simple and inexpensive. Adding spinal manipulation to the regimen not only does not improve the situation, it may be detrimental." Edzard Ernst, The Guardian (9th August 2005) Frequency and clinical predictors of adverse reactions to chiropractic care in the UCLA neck pain studyConcludes: "Our results suggest that adverse reactions to chiropractic care for neck pain are common and that despite somewhat imprecise estimation, adverse reactions appear more likely to follow cervical spine manipulation than mobilization. GIven the possible higher risk of adverse reactions and lack of demonstrated effectiveness of manipulation over mobilization, chiropractors should consider a conservative approach for applying manipulation to their patients, especially those with severe neck pain". Spine (1st July 2005) Dangers of alternative medicineIrish television programme which contains a 22-minute segment (commencing after 12 minutes) about the dangers of chiropractic neck manipulation: "The attempts to minimise this by the chiropractic profession are astonishing and, to be frank, rather disgusting" — Brad Stewart, Canadian neurologist. The rebuttals made by Hagan McQuaid, International Vice-President of the Chiropractic Association of Ireland, are wholly unconvincing. The programme concludes by questioning the effectiveness of statutory regulation. Prime Time, RTE (5th May 2005) Chiropractic Sympathectomy: Carotid artery dissection with Oculosympathetic Palsy after Chiropractic Manipulation of the NeckThe Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine (May 2005) [pdf] Caudal spinal cord ischemia after lumbar vertebral manipulation"Spinal cord ischemia may deserve to be added to the list of possible adverse events after lumbar spine manipulation." Joint Bone Spine (July 2004) Cerebrovascular Complications Associated with Spinal ManipulationConcludes that serious cerebrovascular complications of spinal manipulation continue to be reported. Their incidence is unknown. Large and rigorous prospective studies are necessary in order to define the risks of spinal manipulation accurately. E. Ernst, Physical Therapy Reviews (March 2004) [The Full Text version of this article has recently become subscription-only. In the Case Reports section (Table 1) of the Full Text version, 11 cases are listed where a chiropractor was the therapist involved in administering cervical spine manipulation in which the CAUSALITY of the adverse event is listed as 'CERTAIN'. In two of these cases (Corazzo 1998 and Siegel 2001), the adverse event was vertebral artery dissection and stroke]. Extensive spinal epidural hematoma — an uncommon entity following cervical chiropractic manipulation"If neurological deficits occur after chiropractic manipulation, a spinal epidural hematoma should be considered to provide adequate therapy without delay. The current case report shows an unusual expansion of the hematoma which has not described so far after chiropractic manipulation." Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. (Jan-Feb 2004) Coroner's Jury Concludes That Neck Manipulation Killed Canadian WomanIncludes the Jury's recommendations regarding neck manipulation. Chirobase (January 2004) NOTE: Although many chiropractors claim that the jury's verdict of 'accidental' was indecisive. Tim Danson lawyer for the CMCC said of the verdict: "It represents a massive miscarriage of justice". Chiropractic services have now been delisted by the governments of British Columbia(Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College) and the CCA (Canadian Chiropractic Association) Ontario and Alberta. Amani Oakley's closing in the Lana Dale Lewis InquestBearing in mind that the requirement to explain risks to patients has the potential to affect a chiropractor's income, it is interesting to note a revealing comment which was made at an inquest in Canada which involved a chiropractor who had allegedly caused a patient to suffer a stroke through neck manipulation. When pressed as to why he wasn't telling his patients about the 'potentially catastrophic injuries and death' which may result from neck manipulation, he said that if he were to tell patients that "I can kill you", then "half of them would walk out". (Chirowatch) [Use 'Edit' then 'Find on This Page' to locate quote] Fatal chiropractic: The Lana Dale Lewis case"On September 12, 1996, four days after her 45th birthday, Ontario resident Lana Dale Lewis died after suffering a stroke….. Dr. John Deck, neuropathologist from the Office of the Chief Coroner, Toronto, blamed the death on chiropractic manipulation. Deck said that there was no significant doubt in his mind that the chiropractic manipulation was the cause of the fatal stroke. His findings were certified by Dr. Robert Huxter, Regional Coroner for Ontario and by another Ontario coroner, Dr. Murray Naiberg." John Burdett (Skeptics Canada) Stroke and Spinal Manipulation"The preponderance of the scientific literature supports a direct cause-and-effect mechanism between spinal manipulation and stroke. The therapeutic benefit of spinal manipulation in acute neck pain remains unproven. The [American] public deserves to be provided a thorough informed consent by practitioners of spinal manipulation prior to any treatment being rendered. Further research into informed consent, stroke caused by spinal manipulation, and the therapeutic benefit of the procedure, if any, needs further investigation." Article by Preston Long, PhD, Journal of Quality Healthcare (2004) [pdf] Bilateral occipital-parietal hemorrhagic infarctions following chiropractic cervical manipulationSeminars in Ophthalmology (December 2003) Wallenberg's syndrome secondary to dissection of the vertebral artery caused by chiropractic manipulationRevista de Neurologia (November 2003) Bilateral vertebral artery dissection after chiropractic treatmentDer Orthopade (October 2003) Cervical artery dissection — clinical features, risk factors, therapy and outcome in 126 patientsThis study emphasises the potential dangers of chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine. Journal of Neurology (October 2003) Simultaneous bilateral internal carotid and vertebral artery dissection following chiropractic manipulationA 34-year old man in previous good health was admitted following acute left-sided loss of coordination, dysarthria, and hypo-aesthesia following neck manipulation by a chiropractor. Neuroradiology (May 2003) [Reported in FACT] The medial medullary infarction (Dejerine syndrome) following chiropractic neck manipulation"A-38-year-old man suddenly developed nausea, vomiting and vertigo during chiropractic neck manipulation. This was followed by right hemiplegia, right deep sensory disturbance and left hypoglossal nerve palsy, consistent with the medial medullary infarction (Dejerine syndrome). The MRI revealed infarction at left medial part of the medulla. The vertebral angiogram and MRA showed marked narrowing of the left vertebral artery. X-rays of the cervical spine showed no spondylosis, dislocation nor osteolysis of the odontoid process….. The mechanism was suggested that rotation and tilting of the neck stretches and compresses the vertebral artery at the cervical joint causing injury to the vessel, with an intimal tearing, dissection, and pseudoaneurysm formation. Consequently, the present case may be caused by injury to the left vertebral artery with an intimal tearing during neck manipulation sufficient to cause disection and subsequent infarction of the brain stem." No To Shinkei (February 2003) [Japanese article] A Prevention of the Vertebrobasilar Accidents Following Cervical Thrust Manipulations"It is now a well established fact that cervical thrust manipulations can harm the vertebral artery…This problem is now better known. It is no longer attributed to atherosclerosis (and ageing process) but to a dissection of a vertebral artery, a clinical entity observed in younger patients (20-45 years)." Recommendations of The French Society of Orthopaedic and Osteopathic Manual Medicine (SOFMMOO) (2003) Complications following vertebral manipulation — a survey of French region physiciansIn a survey among 240 neurologists, neurosurgeons, rheumatologists and physicians aimed at estimating the frequency and the incidence of strokes, myelopathies, radiculopathies or osteoarticular accidents linked to spinal manipulation during the preceding two years, the incidence of vertebro-basilar accidents was 30 times higher than in published series. Annales de Readapatation et de Medecine Physique (2003) Spinal manipulative therapy is an independent risk factor for vertebral artery dissectionPatients undergoing Spinal Manipulative Therapy should be consented for risk of stroke or vascular injury from the procedure. Neurology (2003) Intracranial hypotension after chiropractic manipulationGerman neurologists report the case of a 40-year-old woman who had a chiropractic upper spinal manipulation and immediately afterwards suffered increasingly severe symptoms of intracranial hypotension, e.g. headache, nausea and vomiting. After considerable diagnostic confusion a dural tear was found at the level of C1-C2. There were no other causes for the leak of cerebro-spinal fluid. The authors are thus certain that this is the first well-documented case of intracranial hypotension caused by chiropractic. They also speculate that a substantial amount of cases of 'spontaneous' intracranial hypotension may be related to upper spinal manipulation. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry (2003) Complications of cervical spine manipulation therapy: 5-year retrospective study in a single-groupConclusions: Cervical spinal manipulation therapy may worsen preexisting cervical disc herniation or cause disc herniation resulting in radiculopathy, myelopathy, or VA compression. In cases of cervical spondylosis, CSMT may also worsen preexisting myelopathy or radiculopathy. Manipulation of the cervical spine may also be associated with higher complication rates than previously reported. Neurosurgical Focus (December 2002) [pdf] Stroke, cerebral artery dissection, and cervical spine manipulation therapy"The results of this study suggest that stroke, particularly vertebrobasilar dissection, should be considered a random and unpredictable complication of any neck movement including cervical manipulation. They may occur at any point in the course of treatment with virtually any method of cervical manipulation." Journal of Neurology (August 2002) Stroke following chiropractic manipulation. Report of 3 cases and review of the literatureThree cases of stroke due to arterial dissection following chiropractic manipulation are presented. Cerebrovascular Diseases (2002) Horner's syndrome in dissection of the carotid artery after chiropractic manipulationConcludes that there appears to be a causal relationship between carotid artery dissection and chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine. Klin. Monatsbl. Augenheilkd. (2002) Spinal Manipulation: Its safety is uncertain"Specific risk factors for vascular accidents related to spinal manipulation have not been identified, which means that any patient may be at risk, particularly those below 45 years of age." Edzard Ernst, Canadian Medical Association Journal (2002) Manipulation of the Cervical Spine: a systematic review of case reports of serious adverse events, 1995-2001Concludes that serious complications of cervical spine manipulation appear to occur regularly. Their incidence is essentially unknown and should be established as a matter of urgency through adequately designed investigations. E. Ernst, The Medical Journal of Australia (2002) Canadian Neurologists Warn Against Neck ManipulationIncludes a statement of concern to the Canadian public from Canadian neurologists regarding the debilitating and fatal damage manipulation of the neck may cause to the nervous system. Concern No.5 strongly recommends "the immediate banning of all spinal manipulation of infants and children". Brad Stewart, MD, Chirobase (2002) Horner's syndrome and dissection of the internal carotid artery after chiropractic manipulation of the neck"Acute, painful Horner's syndrome as a manifestation of vascular dissection may be associated with chiropractic manipulation of the neck." American Journal of Ophthalmology (April 2001) Life-Threatening Complications of Spinal Manipulation"….one must consider underreporting: if a patient suffers a serious complication after spinal manipulation, her chiropractor is unlikely to see her again, and the physicians who do might not think of a link between manipulation and the adverse effect. And even if they consider an association, are they likely to publish this as a case report? Moreover, none of the prospective studies available to date have enough power to detect events that occur less frequently than 1 in approximately 500 patients." E. Ernst, Stroke (2001) Neurological complications of cervical spine manipulationConcludes that concern about neurological complications following cervical spine manipulation appears to be justified. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2001) Chiropractic Manipulation and Stroke"Practitioners of this technique (cervical spine manipulation) should be called on to demonstrate the evidence-based benefit of this procedure and to define the specific indications for which the benefits of intervention outweigh the risk." Stroke (2001) Diaphragmatic Paralysis Following Cervical Chiropractic ManipulationConcludes that, although uncommon, diaphragmatic paralysis from phrenic nerve injury can be a complication of cervical chiropractic manipulation. CHEST (2001) The neuro-ophthalmologic complications of cervical manipulationCervical manipulation, specifically chiropractic manipulation, is an important cause of vertebrobasilar and occasionally carotid distribution strokes. Journal of Neuroophthalmology (December 2000) Stroke following chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spinePatients at risk of stroke after chiropractic manipulation may not be identified a priori. Journal of Neurology (August 1999) Manipulation of the Cervical Spine: Risks and Benefits"The literature does not demonstrate that the benefits of manipulation of the cervical spine outweigh the risks." Professional Perspective by Richard P. di Fabio. Physical Therapy (January 1999) Brown-Sequard syndrome of the cervical spinal cord after chiropractic manipulationThis case report describes a 58-year-old woman who was treated by a chiropractor with neck manipulation (high-velocity thrust) for neck pain. Immediately after the third session, the patient experienced neurolgical symptoms. She saw a neurologist and was admitted to hospital 3 days later. The diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). American Journal of Neuroradiology (August 1998) Visual field loss resulting from cervical chiropractic manipulationConcludes that cerebral infarct may occur as a result of chiropractic neck manipulation. American Journal of Ophthalmology (1997) Radiculomedullary complications of cervical spinal manipulation"This report describes four patients with cervical myelopathy and/or radiculopathy caused or aggravated by spinal manipulation. In one patient, magnetic resonance scans before and after chiropractic treatment strongly suggests that the disc prolapse syndrome experienced by the patient was provoked by the spinal manipulation." Spinal Cord. (August 1996) Complications of spinal manipulation: a comprehensive review of the literatureAn authoritative systematic review: "It is difficult to estimate the incidence of SMT (spinal manipulative therapy) complications, as they are probably underreported in the literature…Referral for SMT should not be made to practitioners applying rotatory cervical manipulation." Journal of Family Practice (May 1996) A risk/benefit analysis of spinal manipulation therapy for relief of lumbar or cervical painThis review describes two patients with spinal cord injuries associated with SMT (spinal manipulative therapy) and establishes the risk/benefit ratios for patients with lumbar or cervical pain. An analysis of these cases and 138 cases reported in the literature demonstrates six risk factors associated with complications of SMT. Neurosurgery (July 1993) Complications of vertebral disc and spinal diseases after manipulation therapyComplications caused by manipulation therapy in 3 cases of spine condition and 22 cases of vertebral disc disease observed in relatively short period of time are presented. The authors conclude that manual therapy not preceded by precise diagnosis is highly hazardous. Chir Narzadow Ruchu Ortop (1993) Complications of chiropractic treatment for back painAlthough chiropractic treatment is a popular alternative, its long-term effect is questionable and the medical literature contains numerous reports of patients whose condition worsened as a result of it. Postgraduate Medicine (May 1988) Complications of Cervical Manipulation: A Case Report of Fatal Brainstem Infarct with Review of the Mechanisms and Predisposing Factors"Medical and surgical complications of chiropractic manipulation occur infrequently in relation to the number of procedures performed. These complications include intracranial hemorrhage, spinal cord injuries, trauma to the carotid and vertebral arteries, and vertebral-basilar distribution infarction. This is a report of a case of vertebrobasilar infarction following chiropractic manipulation leading to a comatose state within 1 h following the manipulative procedure. This case report should alert the forensic pathologist to the possibility of cervical manipulation as a cause of acute brainstem infarction, and the mechanism and the predisposing factors to injury should be reviewed. The importance of careful autopsy technique and use of postmortem arteriographic techniques are emphasized." Journal of Forensic Sciences (July 1987) Sudden sensorineural hearing loss following manipulation of the cervical spineLaryngoscope (1986) Brain stem infarction due to chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spineSouth Med. Journal (1983) |