Recognition of patients presenting with or at risk of craniocervical arterial dissection: Preliminary results of a prospective study

Background: Craniocervical arterial dissection (CAD) is a common cause of stroke in young people which in rare cases has been associated with cervical manipulative therapy. The mechanism is considered to involve pre-existing arterial susceptibility and a precipitating event. Pre-manipulative screening tests are limited in their ability to identify those at risk. In particular one difficulty is that the early features of CAD can mimic a painful musculoskeletal presentation and a patient may present for treatment of neck pain and headache with a dissection in progress.
Source: Manual Therapy - Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Source Type: research