The Association Between Cervical Spine Manipulation and Carotid Artery Dissection: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Controversy surrounds the safety of cervical spine manipulation. Ischemic stroke secondary to cervical spine manipulation is a hypothesized adverse event. In Canada, the seriousness of these events and their perceived association to cervical spine manipulation has led some members of the public to call for a ban of the procedure. The primary objective of this study was to determine the incidence of internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection after cervical spine manipulation in patients who experience neck pain and its associated disorders.
Source: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics - Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Source Type: research