Abstract
Manipulation treatment of the cervical spine is one of the most often used forms of therapy of painful conditions of cervical spine. Vertebrobasilar vascular damage is one of the most frequently cited complications in manipulations of cervical spine.
The authors present a literature review summarizing so far published opinions and observations in this area. The published data make it clear that the occurrence of cerebrovascular lesion resulting from manipulation of the cervical spine is a matter of discussion, which has not been confirmed.
If there is a connection, the incidence is negligible in comparison with the number of manipulations performed and statistically thoroughly negligible. There is not any specific test to reveal the danger of origination of cerebrovascular complication.