This case involves a 27-year-old female patient with a past medical history of hypertension. The patient presented to a chiropractor for adjustment and neck manipulation. The patient had seen this particular chiropractor in the past and the chiropractor had successfully performed 2 previous manipulations on the patient. Several hours after the manipulation, the patient’s husband found her collapsed in the bathroom with an altered mental state. She was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with an acute stroke secondary to carotid artery dissection. It was alleged that the chiropractor was negligent in performing the neck manipulation. An expert chiropractor was sought to review the medical records and opine on the standard of care.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. How often do you perform neck manipulations?
2. What measures should be taken to prevent injury to the carotid arteries?
Expert Witness Response E-009668
I currently teach neck manipulation full-time to students at a chiropractic college and I perform them at least several times per week. Before joining the college faculty in 2005, I was in private chiropractic practice full-time for 15 years, during which time I performed neck manipulations multiple times per day. For anatomical reasons, it is highly unlikely that a neck manipulation can cause a carotid artery dissection. In my opinion, this case as described hinges on whether or not the chiropractor involved performed a thorough history and exam on this patient prior to treatment that could have enabled him or her to recognize red flags of an evolving dissection. I have reviewed numerous cases of alleged vertebral artery dissections following chiropractic manipulation as a consultant for both plaintiffs and defendants.
About the author
Victoria Negron
Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.
Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.
Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.
