Every form of health care can contain some risk and the media often sensationalize those risks and create fear. But what are the real numbers? The following shows a comparison between spinal manipulation, spinal surgery, and anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal).
Your patients need to know these statistics.
Cervical Spine Manipulation:
Complication 2.09 per million
Death .268 per million
Cervical Spine Surgery:
Complication 15,600 per million
Death 6,900 per million
Anti-inflammatory drugs:
Serious gastrointestinal event (all ages) 1,000 per million
Serious gastrointestinal event (65 and over) 3,200 per million
For Your Health,
Dr. Leo McCormick, Dr. Darryl Hajduczek, and Dr. Leslie Freeman