Attempting To Treat Patients' Necks, Some Chiropractors Tear Major Arteries

At Clare & Berry, we are an experienced medical malpractice legal team. Over the past 30 years, we have helped injured individuals recover full and fair compensation for the damage they have suffered due to the negligence of others. This includes negligence on the part of chiropractors.

Some chiropractors use what is called "high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) cervical manipulation" to treat neck conditions. The goal is to alleviate neck pain and increase the patient's range of motion by slowly pulling the cervical structures slightly beyond their normal capacity. In other words, they attempt to twist the neck just a little too far.

While this approach can produce effective results in some patients, it can also cause life-threatening injuries to others. High-velocity cervical manipulations can easily tear the internal lining of the carotid artery. In the worst cases, the artery dissection may form a blood clot that travels to the patient's brain, resulting in an embolic or ischemic stroke.

A chiropractor's error may be compounded by hospital staff members who fail to diagnose the stroke in time. Any delay in diagnosis or treatment of an ischemic stroke can result in a lasting brain injury or even wrongful death. 

We have handled numerous cases like this and successfully obtained settlements for the victims. If your chiropractor used high-velocity cervical manipulation on you and you suffered a stroke or other serious harm, turn to Clare & Berry for experienced legal counsel and representation.