Deaths after chiropractic: A review of published cases

International Journal of Clinical Practice

Volumn 64, Issue 8, 2010, Pages 1162-1165

  Ernst, E ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF EXETER   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTERY DISSECTION; ARTICLE; CHIROPRACTIC; FATALITY; HUMAN; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW;

ADULT; DEATH, SUDDEN; FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; MANIPULATION, CHIROPRACTIC; MIDDLE AGED;

EID: 77953831149     PISSN: 13685031     EISSN: 17421241     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2010.02352.x     Document Type: Article

References (40)

1. Ernst E. Adverse effects of spinal manipulation: a systematic review. J R Soc Med 2007 100 : 330 338.
2. Leon-Sanchez A, Cuetter A, Ferrer G. Cervical spine manipulation: an alternative medical procedure with potentially fatal complications. South Med J 2007 100 : 201 203.
3. Dixon P. Letter to the Editor. Adverse effects of spinal manipulation. J R Soc Med 2007 100 : 444.
4. Lewis BJ. Letter to the Editor. Adverse effects of spinal manipulation. J R Soc Med 2007 100 : 444.
5. Anon. Medicolegal. Malpractice: death resulting from chiropractic treatment for headache. J Am Med Assoc 1934 103 : 1260
6. J Am Med Assoc 1935; 105:1712-1714
7. J Am Med Assoc 1937; 109:233-4.
8. Pratt-Thomas HR, Berger KE. Cerebellar and spinal injuries after chiropractic manipulation. J Am Med Assoc 1947 133 : 600 603.
9. Anon. Medicolegal abstracts. Chiropractors: injury to spinal meninges during adjustments. J Am Med Assoc 1955 159 : 809.
10. Ford FR, Clark D. Thrombosis of the basilar artery with softenings in the cerebellum and brain stem due to manipulation of the neck; a report of two cases with one post-mortem examination, reasons are given to prove that damage to the vertebral arteries is responsible. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp 1956 98 : 37 42.
11. Smith RA, Estridge MN. Neurologic complications of head and neck manipulations. JAMA 1962 182 : 528 531.
12. Lorenz R, Vogelsang HG. Thrombosis of the basilar artery following chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine. [In German] Thrombose der arteria basilaris nach chiropraktischen Manipulationen an der Halbwirbelsäule. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1972 97 : 36 43.
13. Schmitt HP. Rupturen und Thrombosen der Arteria vertebralis nach gedeckten mechanischen Insulten. Schweiz Arch Neurol Neurochir Psychiatry 1976 119 : 363 379.
14. Krueger BR, Okazaki H. Vertebral-basilar distribution infarction following chiropractic cervical manipulation. Mayo Clin Proc 1980 55 : 322 332.
15. Sherman DG, Hart RG, Easton JD. Abrupt change in head position and cerebral infarction. Stroke 1981 12 : 2 6.
16. Ali Cherif A, Delpuech F, Habib M, Salamon G, Khalil R. Thrombose vertebro-basilaire apres manipulation du rachis cervical. A propos de deux cas. Ann de Med Phys 1983 25 : 459 465.
17. Nielsen AA. Cerebrovascular insults caused by manipulation of the cervical spine. [In Danish]. Ugeskr Laeger 1984 146 : 3267 3270.
18. Zak SM, Carmody RF. Cerebellar infarction from chiropractic neck manipulation: case report and review of the literature. Ariz Med 1984 41 : 333 337.
19. Modde PJ. Chiropractic Malpractice.
20. Jentzen JM, Amatuzio J, Peterson GF. Complications of cervical manipulation: a case report of fatal brainstem infarct with review of the mechanisms and predisposing factors. J Forensic Sci 1987 32 : 1089 1094.
21. Mas JL, Henin D, Bousser MG, Chain F, Haw JJ. Dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery and cervical manipulation: a case report with autopsy. Neurology 1989 39 : 512 515.
22. Sherman MR, Smialek JE, Zane WE. Pathogenesis of vertebral artery occlusion following cervical spine manipulation. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1987 111 : 851 853.
23. Raskind R, North CM. Vertebral artery injuries following chiropractic cervical spine manipulation - case reports. Angiology 1990 41 : 445 452.
24. Sullivan EC. Brain stem stroke syndromes from cervical adjustments. Report on five cases. J Chiropr Res Clin Invest 1992 8 : 12 6.
25. Haynes MJ. Stroke following cervical manipulation in Perth. Chiropr J Aust 1994 24 : 42 6.
26. Peters M, Bohl J, Thömke F, Kallen K-J, Mahlzahn K, Wandel E. Dissection of the internal carotid artery after chiropractic manipulation of the neck. Neurology 1995 45 : 2284 2286.
27. Klougart N, Leboeuf-Yde C, Rasmussen LR. Safety in chiropractic practice. Part I. The occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents after manipulation to the neck in Denmark from 1978-1988. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1996 19 : 371 377.
28. Haldeman S, Kohlbeck FJ, McGregor M. Unpredictability of cerebrovascular ischemia associated with cervical spine manipulation. Spine 2002 27 : 49 55.
29. Dziewas R, Konrad C, Dräger B et al. Cervical artery dissection - clinical features, risk factors, therapy and outcome in 126 patients. J Neurol 2003 250 : 1179 1184.
30. Presentation by Dr Preston Long DC to State of Connecticut. Connecticut State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Hartford Connecticut. 25 October 2009.
31. Anon. What's the harm in going to a chiropractor? What's the Harm 2009 http://whatstheharm.net/chiropractic.html (accessed October 2009).
32. Ernst E. Vascular accidents after neck manipulation: cause or coincidence? Int J Clin Pract 2009 in press.
33. Long PH. Stroke and spinal manipulation. J Quality Health Care 2004 3 : 8 10.
34. Ernst E. Chiropractic: a critical evaluation. J Pain Symptom Manage 2008 35 : 544 562.
35. Stevinson C, Honan W, Cooke B, Ernst E. Neurological complications of cervical spine manipulation. J Roy Soc Med 2001 94 : 107 110.
36. Ernst E. Cerebrovascular complications associated with spinal manipulation. Phys Ther Rev 2004 9 : 5 15.
37. Terrett AGJ. Current Concepts in Vertebrobasilar Complications following Spinal Manipulation, 2nd edn
38. Di Fabio RP. Manipulation of the cervical spine: risks and benefits. Physical Ther 1999 79 : 50 65.
39. Alcantara J, Ohm J, Kunz D. The safety and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic: a survey of chiropractors and parents in a practice-based research network. Explore (NY) 2009 5 : 290 295.
40. Sweeney A, Doody C Manual therapy for the cervical spine and reported adverse effects: a survey of Irish Manipulative Physiotherapists. Man Ther 2010 15 : 32 6.