Objectives :
The aim of the present study was to report the safety of cervical Chuna manipulation treatment (CCMT). We investigated the mechanism and complications of adverse reactions associated with CCMT, and newly demonstrated three cases in litigation.
Methods :
We searched relevant case reports, surveys, and review articles using a comprehensive databases of online and bibliography, combed adverse cases in clinical field.
Results :
A relative-to-absolute contraindication to cervical Chuna manipulation was circulatory and haematological disorders, neurological disorders, bone-weakening and destructive disorders, articular derangement or psychological factors. The majority of adverse reactions were mild or moderate in 85~90%, began within 4 h and generally disappeared within the next 24 h, at least one of them was reported by 30.0~60.9% of the patients after cervical manipulation. The most common were local discomfort (15.2~53.0%), headache (10.0~19.8%), stiffness (19.5~25.0%), tiredness (10.0~12.1%), or radiating discomfort (10.0~23.0%).
The two of reported clinical cases were the occurrence of retropharngeal hematoma and cervical herniated disc disease after CCMT. The one was not a fault of practitioner, but complain for compensation.
Conclusions :
Manipulation of the cervical spine may also be associated with higher complication rates than previously reported. Although It is difficult to estimate the incidence of cervical manipulation complications, it is important to differentiate those patients who are susceptible to adverse reactions in order to inform them correctly.