Can Chiropractic Adjustments Cause a Stroke?

 Posted on April 12, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

According to a recent Gallup poll, approximately 33 million adults in the United States have visited a chiropractor in the last 12 months. Chiropractic treatments seek to relieve joint pain and stiffness through manual manipulation of the spine and other joints. However, chiropractic adjustments have also been associated with adverse consequences including herniated disk, nerve compression, and even stroke. If a chiropractor’s negligence leads to a patient’s injury or death, the chiropractor may be subject to a medical malpractice claim.

Chiropractic Treatments and Vertebral Artery Dissection

The majority of adults will experience mild to moderate back pain at some point in their lives. For many, pain and stiffness in the neck or back becomes unbearable. Some sufferers turn to chiropractors in pursuit of relief. The majority of chiropractic adjustments do not result in serious patient harm. However, chiropractic manipulation of the spine has been linked with serious medical complications, including occlusion or dissection of the vertebral artery which often leads to stroke.

In a study published by the American Heart Association, individuals who suffered vertebrobasilar accidents were five times more likely than the control group to have visited a chiropractor in the week preceding the vertebrobasilar accident. Another study found that stroke victims under the age of 60 who suffered tears in the vertebral artery were six times more likely to have had chiropractic adjustments in the preceding 30 days than stroke victims that did not suffer tears in the vertebral artery.

Legal Options if You or a Loved One Were Harmed by a Chiropractic Adjustment

If you or a loved one suffered a vertebral artery dissection or another injury after a chiropractic adjustment, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional such as a chiropractor’s negligence causes a patient injury or harm. Some examples of negligent chiropractic care that may lead to patient harm include:

• Using excessive force during a chiropractic procedure
• Incorrectly performing a chiropractic adjustment
• Failing to explain the potential risks of a chiropractic procedure (lack of informed consent)
• Failure to recognize the signs of an urgent medical condition such as a heart attack

Contact a Cook County Chiropractic Malpractice Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered a stroke or other serious medical problem after visiting a chiropractor, contact Schwartz Injury Law. Our skilled team of Joliet medical malpractice attorneys can investigate the medical condition and determine if negligent chiropractic care may have been the cause. If medical negligence on the part of a chiropractor did cause your injury or your loved one’s death, you may be able to hold the chiropractor answerable and recover damages through a malpractice claim. Call us at 815-723-7300 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.STR.32.5.1054

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2003/05/4635/chiropractic-treatment-neck-can-be-risk-factor-stroke

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chiropractic-adjustment/about/pac-20393513

https://news.gallup.com/poll/184910/majority-say-chiropractic-works-neck-back-pain.aspx