Central Retinal Artery Occlusion After Manipulation of the Neck by a Chiropractor

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology Vol. 121; no. 3; pp. 321 - 322
• Main Authors: Jumper, James M., Horton, Jonathan C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-03-1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arteriosclerosis - complications; Arteriosclerosis - diagnosis; Biological and medical sciences; Carotid Artery, Internal; Carotid Stenosis - diagnosis; Carotid Stenosis - etiology; Chiropractic; Diseases of the nervous system; Embolism, Cholesterol - etiology; Fundus Oculi; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Male; Manipulation, Orthopedic - adverse effects; Medical sciences; Neck; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Retinal Artery Occlusion - etiology; Retinal Artery Occlusion - pathology; Human; Nervous system diseases; Retinopathy; Cardiovascular disease; Vascular disease; Case study; Eye disease; Central artery of retina; Carotid; Manipulation; Atherosclerosis; Complication; Neck; Obliteration; Elderly; Cervical spine
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(14)70283-1

To document a case of central retinal artery occlusion after chiropractic treatment.
An 87-year-old man suffered a central retinal artery occlusion immediately after chiropractic neck manipulation.
A magnetic resonance angiogram showed an atherosclerotic plaque in the ipsilateral carotid artery, which probably shed emboli during cervical joint mobilization.
The carotid arteries should be approached carefully in patients with known or suspected atherosclerotic disease of the carotid arteries.