Arm Weakness in a Child Following Chiropractor Manipulation of the Neck

A 6-year-old right-handed boy presents to the clinic with left arm weakness that developed 6 months previously. At that time, the patient was on his way to see his primary care physician for a sinus infection when he was “diverted” by his grandfather to see a chiropractor instead. There was some degree of spinal manipulation of the neck without any immediate pain being reported. The following evening, the patient woke with complaints of left arm tingling and numbness. He subsequently developed gradual weakness of the left arm over the next 7 days before the family sought medical care. He was seen by a practitioner. He had normal findings on clavicle and humeral x-rays and was sent home.

Source: Seminars in Pediatric Neurology - April 17, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Stephen R. Deputy Source Type: research