| Abstract/Notes |
OBJECTIVE: To examine the literature regarding hypermobility, a range of movement of a joint that exceeds the norm, as a possible risk factor for cervical artery dissection. METHODS: A literature search of the Pubmed was performed. Indexing terms used included: cervical artery dissection, vertebral artery dissection, chiropractic manipulation, joint hypermobility, connective tissue disorders, Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and neurologic complication. Subcategories of disease states and references of the selected studies were also searched for relevant papers. This database search produced 1150 articles. 37 articles were selected, based on whether the article’s primary focus was on the pathophysiology of cervical artery dissection as it related to disorders of connective tissue and/ or chiropractic manipulation was evaluated and discussed extensively. All types of studies were eligible, including case reports. RESULTS: In this literature review, hypermobility was suggested as a possible risk factor for cervical artery dissection. Furthermore, large numbers of patients with connective tissue disorders experience cervical artery dissections.
DISCUSSION: This descriptive review addresses a possible correlation between a unique patient population (hypermobility syndromes) that present for manipulation and cervical artery dissections. Systematic examination of joint hypermobility with a series of nine maneuvers (Beighton score) may identify patients at risk for cervical artery dissection. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. |
