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Case Reports
. 2016 Nov 30:7:211.
doi: 10.3389/fneur.2016.00211. eCollection 2016.

Upper Trunk Brachial Plexus Palsy Following Chiropractic Manipulation

John Cunningham  1 , Wayne Hoskins  2 , Scott Ferris  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Upper Trunk Brachial Plexus Palsy Following Chiropractic Manipulation

John Cunningham et al. Front Neurol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Upper trunk brachial plexus palsy can result from high-energy trauma and has never been reported following spinal manipulation.

Background: The case is presented of a patient who developed an acute brachial plexus upper trunk palsy following spinal manipulative therapy.

Discussion: Discussion is made on the incidence of complications following manipulation and recommendations to prospectively capture all serious complications.

Concluding remarks: Risks exist with spinal manipulative therapy. Neurological injury can occur. Risk assessment and re-examination should occur at every visit. Large rigorous prospective studies are required to identify the true incidence of serious complications resulting from manipulative therapy and the benefit:risk ratio.

Keywords: Erb’s palsy; brachial plexus injury; chiropractic; manipulation; upper trunk.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Antero-posterior view.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Left lateral view.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Postero-anterior view 1.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Postero-anterior view 2.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Right lateral view.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Motor Nerve Conduction Studies.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Sensory Nerve Conduction Studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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