Safety of Chiropractic

Safety of Chiropractic/Manipulation
Abstract:
Comparison of the risks of serious complications or deaths for patients recieving a course of manipulative treatment vs. nonsterioidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of neck pain. As a result of review of the scientific literature on the subject the authors stated "the best available data suggests that the risk of serious neurovascular complications from cervical manipulation is approximately 1 incident per 100,000 patients recieving treatment over the cours of one year or 0.00025%. The risk of serious gastrointestinal complications requiring hospitalization because of NSAID use for similiar condtions is 0.4% per year. The risk of death from hemorrhage or ulcer perforation attributable to NSAID use for arthritis is 0.04%. Therefore based on the best available evidence we calculate the risk of serious complications or death is 100- 400 times greater for the use of NSAIDs that for the use cervical manipulations for treatment of similiar condtions. Dabbs V,Lauretti WJ.Risk assessment of cervical manipulation vs.NSAIDs for the treatment of neck pain.J manip Physio Ther 1995:18:530-536 Abstract: Comparison of the risks of cervical manipulation with NSAIDs and cervical spine surgery. Hurwitz et al reported an average risk of vertebrobasilar accident with major impairment as 7.5 per 10,000,000 manipulations, They further reported an average incidence rate of serious GI bleeding, perforation etc. resulting in hospitalization or death from the use of NSAIDs as 1/1000. And finally they report an average incidence rate of neurological complication or death from cervical spine surgery as 11.25 per 1000. Hurwitz,El,Aker PD,Adams AH,Meeker WC,Shekelle PG.Manipulation and mobilization of the cervical spine. A systemic review of the literature. Spine 1996:21:1746-1760