NEUROLOGIC COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION - A SURVEY OF CALIFORNIA NEUROLOGISTS

To obtain an estimate of how often practicing neurologists in Californ ia encounter unexpected strokes, myelopathies, or radiculopathies foll owing chiropractic manipulation, we surveyed each member of the Americ an Academy of Neurology in California and inquired about the number of patients evaluated over the preceding 2 years who suffered a neurolog ic complication within 24 hours of chiropractic manipulation. Four hun dred eighty-six neurologists were surveyed, 177 responded; 55 strokes, 16 myelopathies, and 30 radiculopathies were reported. Patients were between the ages of 21 and 60, and the majority experienced complicati ons following cervical manipulation. Most of the patients continued to have persistent neurologic deficits 3 months after the onset, and abo ut one-half had marked or severe deficits. Nearly all of the strokes i nvolved the posterior circulation and almost one-half were angiographi cally proven. Patients, physicians, and chiropractors should be aware of the risk of neurologic complications associated with chiropractic m anipulation.