Chiropractic Adjustment Causes Arterial Injury and Stroke

This case involves a male patient, who presented to his long-time chiropractor for cervical adjustment. Immediately after the manipulation, the patient began to experience severe vertigo and vomiting. He was transferred from the chiropractors office to a hospital via an ambulance and diagnosed with a vertebral artery dissection and cerebellar stroke. As a result of his stroke the patient suffers from paralysis as well as reduced cognition.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. How often do you treat patients like the one described?

2. What are the contraindication of cervical manipulation?

Expert Witness Response E-009668

I currently teach at a major chiropractic college full-time, but when I was practicing full-time for 15 years I frequently treated patients with neck complaints, including patients throughout their pregnancies and post-partum. Relative contraindications to cervical manipulation include neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, dizziness, and new onset of severe headache. Absolute contraindications to manipulation include suspected joint instability, local fracture or tumor. I have published and lectured extensively on the issues of cervical manipulation safety and informed consent.

Expert Bio

This highly qualified Chiropractor earned his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Western States Chiropractic College. He is a leader in his field, having presented on the topics of Chiropractic care and practice more than 25 times and having authored more than 15 publications in the field. He has also won the New York Chiropractic College's Annual Excellence in Teaching Award. Currently, this expert serves as an Associate Professor in the department of Chiropractic clinical sciences at a top Chiropractic college, where he is responsible for leading and developing a Chiropractic technique course focusing on cervical spine and other spinal regions.