The use of this modality in an elderly population, with widespread utilization of anticoagulants and platelet inhibitors, is of potential concern.Īn elderly but very active woman with a long history of pain complaints, including neck pain, and prior chiropractic adjustments, developed a headache-based acute illness with speech and visual complaints shortly after the application of an activator treatment in which the instrument was directed by the chiropractor at the base of her skull on the left side. Her clinical course is described.Ĭonclusions This appears to be the first report linking traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage with a chiropractic activator treatment.

Subsequent history revealed a chiropractic activator treatment applied directly to the junction of the back of her head and the upper cervical spine immediately prior to the onset of symptoms. Extensive evaluation was undertaken because this was thought to be a spontaneous event. CT scan showed a brain hemorrhage in an unusual location.

There are no prior reports of intracerebral hemorrhage resulting from a chiropractic activator treatment.Ĭase Description A 75-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with a history of headaches, visual difficulties on the right, and speech disturbance of relatively acute onset. Activator treatment, an instrument that produces a high-velocity, low-amplitude impact to the spine, is considered especially safe. Stroke has been reported from cervical manipulation, although with a suggested low incidence. Background Despite widespread utilization of chiropractic treatment for various ailments, there is a paucity of documentation regarding intracerebral hemorrhage related to chiropractic trauma.

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