Connect
MJA
MJA

Manipulation of the cervical spine: a systematic review of case reports of serious adverse events, 1995–2001

Edzard Ernst
Med J Aust 2002; 176 (8): 376-380. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04459.x
Published online: 15 April 2002

Abstract

Objective: To summarise recent evidence from case reports (published January 1995 – September 2001) of adverse events after cervical spine manipulation.

Data sources: Five computerised literature searches (MEDLINEPubmed; EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, AMED [Allied and Complementary Medicine Database], and CISCOM [Centralised Information Service for Complementary Medicine]) were performed. No language restrictions were applied.

Study selection: All case reports containing original data of adverse events after cervical spine manipulation were included.

Data extraction: All articles were evaluated and key data extracted according to pre-defined criteria: patient's age, sex and diagnosis; type of therapist; type of treatment; nature of adverse event; method of diagnosis; and clinical outcome.

Data synthesis: Thirty-one case reports (42 individual cases) were found. The patients were equally distributed between the sexes (21 male, 20 female, one unknown) and mostly middle-aged (range, 3 months to 87 years). Most were treated by chiropractors. Arterial dissection causing stroke was reported in at least 18 cases.

Conclusions: Serious adverse events after cervical spine manipulation continue to be reported. As the incidence of these events is unknown, large and rigorous prospective studies of cervical spine manipulation are needed to accurately define the risks.

Spinal manipulation is a popular form of treatment used by chiropractors, osteopaths, doctors, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals to treat a range of (mostly) musculoskeletal problems. The American Chiropractic Association1 defines spinal manipulation as a passive manual manoeuvre "during which the three-joint complex is carried beyond the normal physiological range of movement without exceeding the boundaries of anatomical integrity". The essential characteristic is a low- or high-velocity thrust — brief, sudden, and carefully administered at the end of the normal passive range of movement — in an attempt to increase the joint's range of movement. This distinguishes manipulation from other forms of manual therapy.

The one-year prevalence figures of spinal manipulation in representative samples of general populations are high: 15% (1996, Australia), 10% (1988, Austria), 33% (1996, UK), 7% (1997, USA), and 16% (1998, USA).2 Several articles3,4 published before the mid-1990s described the potential risks of spinal manipulation, and showed that, in particular, manipulation of the cervical spine is associated with serious risks. This systematic review of case reports published between 1995 and 2001 evaluates the reported evidence of serious adverse events after cervical spine manipulation.

Results

The 31 case reports (42 individual cases)5-35 that met the inclusion criteria are summarised in the Box. Most reports were from the United States, but the spread across countries is wide. The reports were published fairly evenly over the time period, with a greater number in 1996 and 2001. The patients were equally distributed between the sexes (21 male, 20 female, one unknown) and middle-aged (range, 3 months to 87 years). Most were treated by chiropractors (n = 30). The exact nature of the cervical spine manipulation was frequently not described in detail; when it was, rotation and tilting of the head were often involved. Arterial dissection, usually of the vertebral arteries, causing stroke was the most common serious adverse event (at least 18 cases). In most instances, the acute onset of symptoms after the manipulation made a causal relationship likely. Symptoms often developed quickly — after or during therapy — and varied widely according to the exact nature of the injury. The eventual outcome was often not reported, but included serious sequelae, such as permanent visual field loss, permanent neurological deficit and death (serious sequelae in at least 17 cases) (see Box).

Discussion

Cervical spine manipulation continues to be associated with vascular, neurological and other serious complications. In particular, high velocity thrusts of the cervical spine, especially with rotational movement, seem to result in complications.3,4 The force and extent of these movements can cause arterial dissection, particularly of the vertebral arteries, in predisposed individuals. In isolated cases, forceful massage alone can lead to serious problems.35 No particular risk factors for such events, or adequate, practical means of prevention, have yet been convincingly demonstrated. Some authors simply recommend not referring patients to practitioners practising rotary cervical manipulation.3,4

The obvious and important limitations of the data must be acknowledged. On the one hand, case reports and case series are by definition anecdotal (Level IV evidence, according to the National Health and Medical Research Council system for assessing level of evidence),36 and thus are rarely conclusive. In many instances, not all details of the case were reported (eg, the exact nature of the interventions and a causal relationship between the intervention and the clinical event was not always established.

On the other hand, under-reporting is likely to significantly distort the evidence. A recent survey of neurologists found 35 cases of neurological complications occurring within 24 hours of cervical spine manipulation,34 none of which had been published. Robertson took an audience poll at a meeting of the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association, which disclosed 360 unreported cases of stroke after spinal manipulations.37 De Bray and colleagues estimated that 12% of all vertebrobasilar artery dissections follow cervical spine manipulations.38

In view of this, all existing estimates of risk must be seen as not sufficiently reliable for responsible decision-making, and information about these risks should be included when informed consent is obtained.39 This is supported by several investigators.23,40 Recent survey data41 suggest that Australian chiropractors rarely obtain verbal consent, and never written consent, from their patients. They also seldom discuss the potential risks of chiropractic adjustments, and may therefore not meet all the legal requirements for informed consent.41

How can the risk of adverse events associated with cervical spine manipulation be minimised in future? Clinical competence in those performing spinal manipulation seems an essential and obvious precondition. Contraindications must be strictly observed. Vautravers argued that even minor unwanted effects should be considered as an absolute contraindication for future spinal manipulations.40 About 50% of all chiropractic patients experience such minor adverse effects.42

In conclusion, 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.

Summary of case reports of adverse events after cervical spine manipulation

Ref no.

Patient and indication (if provided)

Type of therapist (if provided) and intervention

Adverse event

Diagnosed by§

Outcome


5

36-year-old man with low back pain

Chiropractor — all spinal regions manipulated, including the cervical spine, with forceful rotation of flexed head

Symptoms developed "within hours" of CSM. Long thoracic nerve palsy with motor axon degeneration causing paraesthesiae, pain and reduced mobility of right arm

Nerve conduction studies, EMG, MRI

No details provided

6

29-year-old woman with neck pain, vertigo

Chiropractor — CSM with tilting and rotation of head

Dissection of internal carotid artery causing stroke with somnolence. Acute dissection confirmed by autopsy

CT

Death

7

32-year-old man

CSM

Dissection of right vertebral artery causing basilar artery infarction and stroke

CT, MRI

Mild residual neurological deficit

8

65-year-old man with neck pain

CSM

Diaphragmatic palsy (patient remained symptom-free) — a chance finding on routine x-ray

Chest X-ray, fluoroscopy

Not applicable

49-year-old woman with arthritic pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Diaphragmatic palsy causing chronic dyspnoea. Symptoms developed over several months of regular CSM — all other causes were excluded

Chest X-ray, fluoroscopy, lung function tests

No details provided

9

48-year-old woman with neck pain

CSM

Dissection of right intracranial artery causing Wallenberg's syndrome

MRI

Persistent neurological deficit

47-year-old man

Chiropractor — CSM

Intimal tear of right vertebral artery causing transitory neurological deficits

Arteriogram

Bypass surgery, complete recovery

10

59-year-old patient

Chiropractor — CSM

Emboli released from arteriosclerotic internal carotid artery causing partial loss of vision. Symptoms started during CSM

Ophthalmoscopy

Permanent visual field defects

11

87-year-old man

Chiropractor — CSM

Retinal artery occlusion. CSM probably released emboli from arteriosclerotic carotid artery

MRI

No details provided

12

67-year-old man with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Prolapse of discs C5/C6 and C6/C7 causing radiculopathy. Symptoms developed either during or shortly after CSM

MRI, EMG

Gradual improvement

60-year-old man

CSM

Disc herniation at C4/C5. Symptoms developed either during or shortly after CSM

CT

Full recovery

56-year-old man with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Protrusion of discs C4/C5, C5/C6 and C6/C7 causing cervical myelopathy. Symptoms developed either during or shortly after CSM

MRI

Surgery, gait remained ataxic

62-year-old man with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Stenoses of spinal canal at C3, C5/C6, C7 causing cervical myelopathy. Symptoms developed either during or shortly after CSM

MRI

Surgery, permanent neurological deficit

13

33-year-old woman with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM ("neck manipulation")

Spinal epidural haematoma. Symptoms started 15 minutes after CSM

CT, MRI

Haematoma was surgically removed, full recovery

14

39-year-old woman

Chiropractor — CSM

Ischaemic lesion in medulla oblongata causing stroke. Symptoms developed 5 hours after CSM

MRI, cerebral angiography

No details provided

15

39-year-old woman with neck and shoulder pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Acute infarction of the ventromedial aspect of the inferior right occipital lobe causing stroke with left peripheral visual field loss. Symptoms started immediately after CSM

MRI

No details provided

16

45-year-old woman with tension headache

Chiropractor — CSM with high velocity rotational thrust

Dissection of carotid artery causing complete ophthalmoplegia. Unusual case of previously asymptomatic posterior communicating artery aneurysm

CT, MRI

Surgical intervention, full recovery

17

36-year-old man with neck and shoulder pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Vertebral artery dissection causing stroke. Symptoms started 30 min after CSM

MRI, angiography

Good clinical improvement and resolution of dissection

18

38-year-old woman with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM with sudden lateral flexion

Cervical injury causing profuse vomiting, vertigo and Horner's syndrome. Symptoms started 30 min after CSM

MRI, angiography

No details provided

19

58-year-old woman with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM with high velocity thrust

Contusion of upper spinal cord causing Brown–Séquard syndrome. Symptoms started immediately after therapy

MRI

Residual neurological deficit

20

Young woman

Chiropractor — CSM

Infarct in left inferior cortex causing right superior homonymous quadrantanopia

MRI

Persistent abnormalities

21

34-year-old woman with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Dissection of both vertebral arteries causing cerebellar infarction and stroke. Symptoms developed hours after therapy

MRI, duplex sonography

Residual neurological deficit

22

50-year-old woman with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM including rotation and tilting of head

Left intracranial vertebral artery and carotid artery dissection causing stroke. Symptoms started "a few minutes" after CSM

MRI, doppler sonography

"Gradual improvement"

23

27-year old woman with shoulder stiffness

Chiropractor — CSM

Vertebral artery dissection causing stroke. Symptoms started after a 48-hour delay

MRI, CT

Minimal persistent neurological deficit

37-year old man with headache

Chiropractor — CSM

Vertebral artery dissection causing multiple infarcts. Symptoms started immediately after CSM

MRI, CT, angiography

Persistent diplopia and ataxia

24

34-year old woman with neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Vertebral artery dissection causing occipital lobe infarction and hemianopsia. Symptoms started within minutes of CSM

MRI

Persistent visual field disturbances

25

31-year old woman

Chiropractor — CSM ("rapid rotary manipulation")

Left vertebral artery dissection causing cerebellar infarction

MRI

No details provided

64-year-old man

Chiropractor — CSM

Dissection of left internal carotid artery causing parietal stroke

MRI

No details provided

51-year-old man

CSM

Right internal carotid artery dissection causing subcortical stroke

MRI

No details provided

26

57-year-old man

Chiropractor — CSM

Vertebral arteriovenous fistula at C1 level causing radiculopathy of right arm. Vertebral artery dissection due to CSM the most likely cause

Angiography

Surgical obliteration of fistula, rapid improvement

27

3-month-old baby girl

Physiotherapist — forced active rotation and retraction of head

Bleeding into adventitia of both vertebral arteries causing ischaemia of caudal brainstem with subarachnoid haemorrhage

MRI

Death

28

34-year-old man with whiplash injury, non-radiating neck pain

Chiropractor — CSM

Dural tear causing persistent positional dizziness

No details provided

Full recovery

29

43-year-old man with tinnitus

Orthopaedic surgeon — CSM

Intracapsular/intraosseous oedema of the facet joints C2/C3, with lesions of the nerve root at C3 causing severe neck pain

CT

No details provided

30

30-year-old man (no indication)

"Untrained person" (barber) — CSM ("jerked his neck to the extreme right")

Extramedullary, intradural mass compressing spinal cord at C1/C2. Onset of symptoms immediately after CSM

Plain x-ray, MRI

Permanent neurological deficit

31

44-year-old man with a strained shoulder muscle

Chiropractor — CSM

Dissection of right internal carotid artery causing Horner's syndrome. There was also a subtle dissection of the right vertebral artery

MRI

No details provided

32

47-year-old man with stiffness of neck and shoulder

Chiropractor — CSM including neck rotation

Phrenic nerve injury causing diaphragmatic paralysis. Symptoms (severe dyspnoea) started after several hours delay

X-rays, fluoro-scopy, lung function tests

Residual deficit, breathing difficulties

33

33-year-old woman with chronic headache

Chiropractor — CSM

Left vertebral artery dissection causing left pontine infarct and stroke. Symptoms developed during CSM

CT, MRI

Permanent severe neurological deficit

34

Woman

CSM

Vertebral artery dissection causing occlusion and stroke with cerebral oedema. Symptoms developed within 4 hours of CSM. Eight further cases of stroke described

CT, angiogram

Surgical decompression, removal of part of cerebellum, permanent neurological deficit

46-year-old man

Chiropractor — CSM

Subdural haematoma. Symptoms developed immediately after CSM

No details provided

Surgical intervention, full recovery

42-year-old woman

CSM

Prolapse of disc at level C5/C6. Report describes one further case of myelopathy

MRI

Major residual deficits

32-year-old woman

Osteopath — CSM

Radiculopathy at level C6/C7/C8. Symptoms began within 12 hours of CSM

No details provided

Minor residual deficit

35

80-year-old man with neck and shoulder stiffness

Shiatsu practitioner — shiatsu massage of upper neck

Retinal artery embolism causing partial loss of vision. Treatment mainly forceful neck massage (it is arguable whether this constitutes CSM)

MRI, angiography

Permanent ocular effects


§ Tests that established diagnosis. CT = computed tomography. EMG = electromyography. MRI = magnetic resonance imaging. CSM = cervical spine manipulation.

Received 9 August 2001, accepted 3 January 2002

  • Edzard Ernst1

  • Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.


Correspondence: E.Ernst@exeter.ac.uk

Competing interests:

I have received training in spinal manipulation and have applied it clinically, but have no financial competing interests related to spinal manipulation.

  • 1. American Chiropractic Association. Policy statement on spinal manipulation. Arlington, Va: American Chiropractic Association, 1999; Aug: 1-12.
  • 2. Ernst E. Prevalence of use of complementary/alternative medicine: a systematic review. Bull World Health Organ 2000; 78: 252-257.
  • 3. Assendelft WJJ, Bouter LM, Knipschild PG. Complications of spinal manipulation. A comprehensive review of the literature. J Fam Pract 1996; 42: 475-480.
  • 4. Di Fabio RP. Manipulation of the cervical spine: risks and benefits. Physical Ther 1999; 79: 50-65.
  • 5. Oware A, Herskovitz S, Berger AR. Long thoracic nerve palsy following cervical chiropractic manipulation. Muscle-Nerve 1995; 18: 1351.
  • 6. Peters P, Bohl J, Thömke F, et al. Dissection of the internal carotid artery after chiropractic manipulation of the neck. Neurology 1995; 45: 2284-2286.
  • 7. Wang JL, Lin JJ, Lin JC, et al. Vertebral artery dissection complicated by cervical manipulation: a case report. Chung Hua I Hsueh Tsa Chih (Taipei) 1995; 55: 496-500.
  • 8. Sivakumaran P, Wilsher M. Diaphragmatic palsy and chiropractic manipulation. N Z Med J 1995; 108: 279-280.
  • 9. Alimi Y, Tonolli I, Di Mauro P, et al. Manipulations of cervical vertebrae and trauma of the vertebral artery. J Mal Vasc 1996; 21: 320-323.
  • 10. Garner LP, Case WF. Chiropractic manipulation and atherosclerotic emboli to the eye. Am Fam Physician 1996; 53: 88-91.
  • 11. Jumper JM, Horton JC. Central retinal artery occlusion after manipulation of the neck by a chiropractor. Am J Ophthalmol 1996; 121: 321-322.
  • 12. Padua L, Padua R, LoMonaco M, Tonali PA. Radiculomedullary complications of cervical spinal manipulation. Spinal Cord 1996; 34: 488-492.
  • 13. Segal DH, Lidov MW, Camins MB. Cervical epidural hematoma after chiropractic manipulation in healthy young women: case report. Neurosurgery 1996; 39: 1043-1045.
  • 14. Watanabe M, Murayama T, Mano K, et al. Medial medullary infarction following neck manipulation. Clin Neurol 1996; 36: 43-46.
  • 15. Donzis PB, Factor JS. Visual field loss resulting from cervical chiropractic manipulation. Am J Opthalmol 1997; 123: 851-852.
  • 16. Simnad VI. Alerts, notices, and case reports. Acute onset of painful ophthalmoplegia following chiropractic manipulation of the neck. Initial sign of intracranial aneurysm. West J Med 1997; 166: 207-210.
  • 17. Cortazzo JM. Vertebral artery dissection following chiropractic manipulation. Am J Emerg Med 1998; 16: 619-620.
  • 18. Hillier CEM, Gross MLP. Sudden onset vomiting and vertigo following chiropractic neck manipulation. Postgrad Med J 1998; 74: 567-568.
  • 19. Lipper MH, Goldstein JH, Do HM. Brown-Séquard syndrome of the cervical spinal cord after chiropractic manipulation. Am J Neuroradiol 1998; 19: 1349-1352.
  • 20. Jones MR, Waggoner R, Hoyt WF. Cerebral polyopia with extrastriate quadrantanopia: report of a case with magnetic resonance documentation of V2/V3 cortical infarction. J Neuroophthalmol 1999; 19: 1-6.
  • 21. Leweke F, Teschendorf U, Stolz E, et al. Doppelseitige Dissektionen der Vertebralarterien nach chiropraktischer Behandllung der Halswirbelsäule. Akt Neurologie 1999; 26: 35-39.
  • 22. Parenti G, Orlandi G, Bianchi M, et al. Vertebral and carotid artery dissection following chiropractic cervical manipulation. Neurosurg Rev 1999; 22: 127-129.
  • 23. Beran RG, Schaefer A, Sachinwalla T. Serious complications with neck manipulation and informed consent. Med J Aust 2000; 173: 213-214.
  • 24. Devereaux MW. Neuro-ophthalmologic complications of cervical manipulation. J Neuroophthalmol 2000; 20: 236-239.
  • 25. Jeret JS, Bluth MB. Stroke following chiropractic manipulation: Report of 3 cases and review of the literature [Abstract]. J Neuroimaging 2000; 10: 52.
  • 26. Yoshida S, Nakazawa K, Oda Y. Spontaneous vertebral arteriovenous fistula — case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2000; 40: 211-255.
  • 27. Jacobi G, Riepert T, Kieslich M, Bohl J. Fatal outcome during physiotherapy (Vojta's method) in a 3-month old infant. Case report and comments on manual therapy in children. Klin Paediatr 2001; 213: 76-85.
  • 28. Jeret JS. More complications of spinal manipulation. Stroke 2001; 32: 1936-1937.
  • 29. Kraft CN, Conrad R, Vahlensieck M, et al. Non-cerebrovascular complication in chirotherapy manipulation of the cervical vertebrae. Z Orthop Grenzgeb 2001; 139: 8-11.
  • 30. Misra UK, Kalita J, Khandelwal D. Consequences of neck manipulation performed by a non-professional. Spinal Cord 2001; 39: 112-113.
  • 31. Parwar BL, Fawzi AA, Arnold AC, Schwartz SD. Horner's syndrome and dissection of the internal carotid artery after chiropractic manipulation of the neck. Am J Ophthalmol 2001; 131: 523-524.
  • 32. Schram DJ, Vosik W. Diaphragmatic paralysis following cervical chiropractic manipulation: case report and review. Complementary/Alternative Medicine for Asthma 2001; 119: 638-640.
  • 33. Siegel D, Neiders T. Vertebral artery dissection and pontine infarct after chiropractic manipulation. Am J Emerg Med 2001; 19: 172-173.
  • 34. Stevinson C, Honan W, Cooke B, Ernst E. Neurological complications of cervical spine manipulation. J Roy Soc Med 2001; 94: 107-110.
  • 35. Tsuboi K. Retinal and cerebral artery embolism after "Shiatsu" on the neck. Stroke 2001; 32: 2441.
  • 36. National Health and Medical Research Council. How to use the evidence: assessment and application of scientific evidence. Handbook series on preparing clinical practice guidelines. Canberra: NHMRC, February 2000.
  • 37. Robertson JT. Neck manipulations as a cause for stroke. Stroke 1981; 12: 1.
  • 38. De Bray JM, Penisson-Besnier I, Dubas F, Emile J. Extracranial and intracranial vertebrobasilar dissections diagnosis and prognosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1997; 63: 46-51.
  • 39. Ernst E, Cohen M. Informed consent in complementary and alternative medicine. Arch Intern Med 2001; 161: 2288-2292.
  • 40. Vautravers P. Cervical spine manipulation and the precautionary principle. Joint Bone Spine 2000; 67: 272-276.
  • 41. Jamison JR. Informed consent — an Australian case study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1998; 21: 348-355.
  • 42. Ernst E. Prospective investigations into the safety of spinal manipulation. J Pain Symptom Manage 2001; 21: 238-242.

Author

remove_circle_outline Delete Author
add_circle_outline Add Author

Comment
Do you have any competing interests to declare? *

I/we agree to assign copyright to the Medical Journal of Australia and agree to the Conditions of publication *
I/we agree to the Terms of use of the Medical Journal of Australia *
Email me when people comment on this article

Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.