OBJECTIVE: We report on the case of a patient with spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) after spinal manipulative therapy and review features of reported cases of a similar nature. CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient was undergoing Coumadin anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation and presented to the chiropractor complaining of a stiff neck. After cervical manipulation, he developed paresthesia in both feet, progressing to motor deficits in all 4 extremities. He required a laminectomy and evacuation of a clot indenting the spinal cord. RESULTS: Review of the literature revealed 7 reported cases of SEH after manipulation; 5 patients underwent cervical manipulation and 1 patient received Coumadin therapy. CONCLUSION: Practitioners of spinal manipulative therapy should be aware of SEH as a possible complication of manipulation in patients at risk and should exercise caution in the care of patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy.
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Whedon et al. (2006) studied this question.
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