Vascular accidents to the brain stem associated with neck manipulation.
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BACKGROUND: Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHas) are generally well tolerated, and are effective in relieving the symptoms of endometriosis (Prentice 2003). Unfortunately the low oestrogen state that they induce is associated with adverse effects including an acceleration in bone mineral density (BMD) loss. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of treatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHas) on the bone mineral density of women with endometriosis, compared to placebo, no treatment, or other treatments for endometriosis, including GnRHas with add-back therapy. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group's specialised register of controlled trials (23rd October 2002) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library, issue 4, 2002). We also carried out electronic searches of MEDLINE (1966 - March Week 2 2003) and EMBASE (1980 - March Week 2 2003). We also searched the reference lists of articles and contacted researchers in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Prospective, randomised controlled studies of the use of GnRHas for the treatment of women with endometriosis were considered, where bone density measurements were an end point. The control arm of the studies was either placebo, no treatment, another medical therapy for endometriosis, or GnRHas with add-back therapy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers (JF and MS) independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Study authors were contacted for additional information. MAIN RESULTS: Thirty studies involving 2,391 women were included, however only 15, involving 910 women, could be included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that danazol and progesterone + oestrogen add-back are protective of BMD at the lumbar spine both during treatment and for up to six and twelve months after treatment, respectively. Between the groups receiving GnRHa and the groups receiving danazol/gestrinone, there was a significant difference in percentage change of BMD after six months of treatment, the GnRH analogue producing a reduction in BMD from baseline and danazol producing an increase in BMD (SMD -3.43, 95 % CI -3.91 to -2.95). Progesterone only add-back is not protective; after six months of treatment absolute value BMD measurements of the lumbar spine did not differ significantly from the group receiving GnRH analogues (SMD 0.15, 95 % CI -0.21 to 0.52). In the comparison of GnRHa versus GnRHa + HRT add-back, that is oestrogen + progesterone or oestrogen only, there was a significantly bigger BMD loss in the GnRHa only group (SMD -0.49, 95 % CI -0.77 to -0.21). These numbers reflect the absolute value measurements at the lumbar spine after six months of treatment. Due to the small number of studies in the comparison we are unable to conclude whether calcium-regulating agents are protective. No difference was found between low and high dose add-back regimes but again only one study was identified for this comparison. Only one study comparing GnRH analogues with placebo was identified, but the study gave no data. No studies comparing GnRH with the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) or progestagens were identified. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Both danazol and progesterone + oestrogen add-back have been shown to be protective of BMD, while on treatment and up to six and 12 months later, respectively. However, by 24 months of follow-up there was no difference in BMD in those women who had HRT add-back. Studies of danazol versus GnRHa did not report long-term follow-up. The significant side effects associated with danazol limit its use.
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Based upon the shortly presented survey among the members of the Swiss Medical Association for Manual Medicine, the low back pain problems are approached by the means of manual therapy on average 805 times per year and physician. On average each case with low back pain is treated 1,4 times by a general practitioner with experience in manual medicine while specialists who are dealing with more complex cases on average 4 to 5 times. The functional disorders of the lumbar spine treated by manual therapy are superior to the physiotherapy approach or in comparison with a "placebo group" (information by general practitioner about low back pain and application of medication). An appropriate indication for manual therapy is relevant to avoid or reduce the possible risk of the treatment procedure. The physician who performs the manual therapy has to know the limits of the method. Also the knowledge of contraindications for manual therapy will reduce the incidence of possible complication. However based upon the survey among the swiss association the side effects and complications due to manual therapy of the lumbal spine are extremely seldom.
A functional cervical spine disorder is often the cause for persistent vertigo, which can last months or several years. The existence of cervical vertigo is not generally recognized, mainly because an objectivation of the cervical nystagmus is not easily understood by many examiners. In this study we examine additional parameters, which underline the diagnosis of cervical imbalance. The anamnestic statement of staggering refers to a disturbance of the vestibulospinal reactions. In 67 patients in which cervical imbalance was suspected the vestibulospinal reactions were monitored directly before and after manual therapy of the cervical spine. The cranio-corpo-graphie (CCG) and the posturography were used to monitor the results. A highly significant improvement of pathological vestibulospinal reactions was seen after chiropractic manipulation of the spine. These results show that a functional disorder of the cervical vertebrae influences the vestibulospinal reactions. The pathological deficit of the vestibulospinal reactions is not solely a phenomenon of peripheric labyrinth malfunction, failure in the brainstem or in the area of the cerebellum ("brain stem staggering"), but can also be viewed nearly regularly by cervical disturbance of the equilibrium. The results of the treatment can be observed within a few hours.
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Stroke represents an infrequent adverse reaction associated with cervical spine manipulation therapy. Attempts to identify the patient at risk and the type of manipulation most likely to result in these complications of manipulation have not been successful. A retrospective review of 64 medical legal cases of stroke temporally associated with cervical spine manipulation was performed to evaluate characteristics of the treatment rendered and the presenting complaints in patients reporting these complications. These files included records from the practitioner who administered the manipulation therapy, post stroke testing and treatment records usually by a neurologist, and depositions of the patient and the practitioner of manipulation as well as expert and treating physicians. A retrospective review of the files was carried out by three (two in 11 cases) researchers using the same data abstraction instrument to independently assess each case. These independent reviews were followed by a consensus review in which all reviewers reached agreement on file content. Ninety two percent of cases presented with a history of head and/or neck pain and 16 (25 %) cases presented with sudden onset of new and unusual headache and neck pain often associated with other neurological symptoms that may represent a dissection in progress. The strokes occurred at any point during the course of treatment. Certain patients reporting onset of symptoms immediately after first treatment while in others the dissection occurred after multiple manipulations. There was no apparent dose-response relationship to these complications. These strokes were noted following any form of standard cervical manipulation technique including rotation, extension, lateral flexion and non-force and neutral position manipulations. The results of this study suggest that stroke, particularly vertebrobasilar dissection, should be considered a random and unpredictable complication of any neck movement including cervical manipulation. They may occur at any point in the course of treatment with virtually any method of cervical manipulation. The sudden onset of acute and unusual neck and/or head pain may represent a dissection in progress and be the reason a patient seeks manipulative therapy that then serves as the final insult to the vessel leading to ischemia.
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We analyzed the clinical course and neuroradiological findings of ten patients aged 27-46 years, with ischemic stroke secondary to vertebral artery dissection (VAD; n = 8) or internal carotid artery dissection (CAD; n = 2), all following chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine. The following observations were made: (a) All patients had uneventful medical histories, no or only mild vascular risk factors, and no predisposing vascular lesions. (b) VAD was unilateral in five patients and bilateral in three. VAD was located close to the atlantoaxial joint in all eight patients and showed additional involvement of lower sections in six, as well as temporary occlusion of one vertebral artery in three. (c) Nine of ten patients had brain infarction documented by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. (d) Onset of symptoms was immediately after the manipulation (n = 5) or within 2 days (n = 5). (e) Progression of neurological deficits occurred within the following hours to a maximum of 3 weeks. (f) Maximum neurological deficits were severe in nine of ten patients. (g) Outcome after 4 weeks-3 years included no or mild neurological deficits in five patients, marked deficits in three, persistent locked-in syndrome in one, and persistent vegetative state in one. (h) Informed consent was obtained in only one of ten patients. Thus, patients at risk for stroke after chiropractic manipulation may not be identified a priori. Neurological deficits may be severely disabling and are potentially life threatening.
At present, there is an increasing international trend towards evidence-based health care. The field of low back pain (LBP) research in primary care is an excellent example of evidence-based health care because there is a huge body of evidence from randomized trials. These trials have been summarized in a large number of systematic reviews. This paper summarizes the best available evidence from systematic reviews conducted within the framework of the Cochrane Back Review Group on non-invasive treatments for non-specific LBP. Data were gathered from the latest Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 2. The Cochrane reviews were updated with additional trials, if available. Traditional NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and advice to stay active are effective for short-term pain relief in acute LBP. Advice to stay active is also effective for long-term improvement of function in acute LBP. In chronic LBP, various interventions are effective for short-term pain relief, i.e. antidepressants, COX2 inhibitors, back schools, progressive relaxation, cognitive-respondent treatment, exercise therapy, and intensive multidisciplinary treatment. Several treatments are also effective for short-term improvement of function in chronic LBP, namely COX2 inhibitors, back schools, progressive relaxation, exercise therapy, and multidisciplinary treatment. There is no evidence that any of these interventions provides long-term effects on pain and function. Also, many trials showed methodological weaknesses, effects are compared to placebo, no treatment or waiting list controls, and effect sizes are small. Future trials should meet current quality standards and have adequate sample size.
A dysfunction of a joint is defined as a reversible functional restriction of motion presenting with hypomobility according to manual medicine terminology. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency and significance of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction in patients with low back pain and sciatica and imaging-proven disc herniation. We examined the SIJs of 150 patients with low back pain and sciatica; all of these patients had herniated lumbar disks, but none of them had sensory or motor losses. Forty-six patients, hereinafter referred to as group A, were diagnosed with dysfunction of the SIJ. The remaining 104 patients, hereinafter referred to as group B, had no SIJ dysfunction. Dysfunctions were resolved with mobilizing and manipulative techniques of manual medicine. Regardless of SIJ findings, all patients received intensive physiotherapy throughout a 3-week hospitalisation. At the 3 weeks follow-up, 34 patients of group A (73.9%) reported an improvement of lumbar and ischiadic pain, 5 patients were pain free. Improvement was recorded in 57 of the group B patients (54.8%); however, nobody in group B was free of symptoms. We conclude that in the presence of lumbar and ischiadic symptoms our presented data suggest consideration of SIJ dysfunction, requiring manual medicine examination and, in the presence of SIJ dysfunction, appropriate therapy, regardless of intervertebral disc pathomorphology. This could avoid wrong indications for nucleotomy.
We evaluated three different conservative treatment methods for acute low-back pain patients in groups following a manual therapy programme, an intensive training programme, or a general practitioner programme, the latter serving as the control group. Patients aged 19-64 years on sick leave for low-back pain with or without sciatica were included in a prospective randomised study evaluating outcomes such as impairment, pain, functional disability, socio-economic disability and satisfaction with the treatment or explanations. Evaluation by unbiased observers was performed at 1, 3 and 12 months. The three treatment groups were comparable at baseline. With regard to satisfaction, the patients in the manual therapy programme and those in the intensive training programme were more satisfied with the treatment than those in the general practitioner programme at all follow-ups. With regard to the explanations of current low-back pain episodes, the patients in the manual therapy programme were more satisfied than those in the general practitioner programme at all follow-ups. The manual therapy programme group were also more satisfied with the explanations than those in the intensive training programme at the 1-month follow-up. However, no differences were revealed between the groups with respect to outcomes on measures of impairment, pain, functional disability or socioeconomic disability. All three study groups showed rapid improvement. After 1 month a significant improvement was noted in all outcome values compared with the values on entry to the study. Within the limitations discussed in our study, it is concluded that (1) patients sick listed with acute low-back pain, with or without sciatica, will be significantly improved after 1 month regardless of conservative treatment programme; (2) they will be more satisfied with the treatment if they are referred to a manual treatment programme or a training treatment programme; (3) they will be more satisfied with the explanations of the acute low-back problem if they are referred to one of the above groups, especially the manual treatment group; (4) they will not show any other differences with respect to subjective and objective variables, either at short-term or at long-term follow-ups.
This single-blind randomised clinical trial compared osteopathic manipulative treatment with chemonucleolysis (used as a control of known efficacy) for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation. Forty patients with sciatica due to this diagnosis (confirmed by imaging) were treated either by chemonucleolysis or manipulation. Outcomes (leg pain, back pain and self-reported disability) were measured at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 months. The mean values for all outcomes improved in both groups. By 12 months, there was no statistically significant difference in outcome between the treatments, but manipulation produced a statistically significant greater improvement for back pain and disability in the first few weeks. A similar number from both groups required additional orthopaedic intervention; there were no serious complications. Crude cost analysis suggested an overall financial advantage from manipulation. Because osteopathic manipulation produced a 12-month outcome that was equivalent to chemonucleolysis, it can be considered as an option for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation, at least in the absence of clear indications for surgery. Further study into the value of manipulation at a more acute stage is warranted.
A 50-year-old woman presented a sudden left occipital headache and a posterior circulation stroke after cervical manipulation for neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging documented a left intracranial vertebral artery occlusive dissection associated with an ipsilateral internal carotid artery dissection with vessel stenosis in its prepetrous tract. This is the first reported case showing an associate vertebral and carotid artery dissection following cervical manipulation. Carotid dissection was asymptomatic and, therefore, its incidence may be underestimated. We emphasize that cervical manipulation should be performed only in patients without predisposing factors for artery dissection and after an appropriate diagnosis of neck pain.
Cervical spine manipulation has been associated with several disorders such as cervical arteries dissection, but rarely has a relationship with intracranial hypotension been reported. We describe a patient showing intracranial hypotension syndrome following chiropractic cervical spine treatment. Magnetic resonance showed the presence of dural leakage at cervical level, suggesting the pathogenesis of the syndrome. We state that cervical spine manipulation should be considered a treatment with risk of neurological complications, including the occurrence of intracranial hypotension.
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OBJECTIVE: To examine the predictive validity of posterior-anterior (PA) mobility testing in a group of patients with low back pain (LBP). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatient physical therapy clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with LBP (N=131; mean age +/- standard deviation, 33.9+/-10.9 y; range, 19-59 y), and a median symptom duration of 27 days (range, 1-5941 d). Patients completed a baseline examination, including PA mobility testing, and were categorized with respect to both hypomobility and hypermobility (present or absent), and treated for 4 weeks. INTERVENTION: Seventy patients were randomized to an intervention involving manipulation and 61 to a stabilization exercise intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) scores were collected at baseline and after 4 weeks. Three-way repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were performed to assess the effect of mobility categorization and intervention group on the change on the ODQ with time. Number-needed-to-treat (NNT) statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Ninety-three (71.0%) patients were judged to have hypomobility present and 15 (11.5%) were judged with hypermobility present. The ANOVAs resulted in significant interaction effects. Pairwise comparisons showed greater improvements among patients receiving manipulation categorized with hypomobility present versus absent (mean difference, 23.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.1%-42.4%), and among patients receiving stabilization categorized with hypermobility present versus absent (mean difference, 36.4%; 95% CI, 10.3%-69.3%). For patients with hypomobility, failure rates were 26% with manipulation and 74.4% with stabilization (NNT=2.1; 95% CI, 1.6-3.5). For patients with hypermobility, failure rates were 83.3% and 22.2% for manipulation and stabilization, respectively (NNT=1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-10.2). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with LBP judged to have lumbar hypomobility experienced greater benefit from an intervention including manipulation; those judged to have hypermobility were more likely to benefit from a stabilization exercise program.
BACKGROUND: Posteroanterior mobilisation is a manual therapy technique that is commonly used in the examination and treatment of neck pain, but little is known about its biomechanical effect. The purpose of this study was to determine the intervertebral movements of the cervical spine produced by posteroanterior mobilisation. METHODS: The cervical spines of nineteen healthy subjects were scanned using an open interventional magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Posteroanterior mobilisation forces were applied to the fifth cervical vertebra whilst they were in the prone position. Sagittal images of the spine were obtained before and during mobilisation. FINDINGS: It was shown that posteroanterior mobilisation of the cervical spine generally produced extension of the upper motion segments and flexion of the lower segments. The middle segments were inconsistent in the direction of rotation. The cervical lordosis was found to increase with repeated PA loading cycles. INTERPRETATION: The magnitude of intervertebral movement produced by mobilisation is small. Forces applied at one spinous process produced not only movements at the target vertebra but also movements of the entire cervical spine resulting in an increase in lordosis. Mobilisation should be interpreted as three-point bending of the entire cervical spine, rather than simple gliding of one vertebra upon another.