A narrative review of pathophysiological mechanisms associated with cervical artery dissection.

Objective: The purpose of this narrative review was to describe pathophysiological risk factors that have been reported in association with cervical artery dissection (CAD) and to discuss the strength of those associations.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, PubMed, Manual Alternative and Natural Therapy System (MANTIS), and CINAHL databases were searched for the years 1966 through September 2006. Additionally, the literature generated by the searches was culled for relevant citations incorporated within the articles.

Identification of internal carotid artery dissection in chiropractic practice.

Internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) is a condition involving separation of the artery's intimal lining from its medial division, with subsequent extension of the dissection along varying distances of the artery, usually in the direction of blood flow. ICAD may produce cerebral ischemia due to occlusion of the involved artery. This occlusion may occur at or near the site of the dissection, or "downstream" as a result of embolization from a dislodged thrombus fragment.

Patient recall of the mechanics of cervical spine manipulation.

Objective: To determine how accurately patients with neck pain and/or headache can recall the mechanics of their cervical spine manipulative therapy immediately after its administration.

Methods: A survey analysis of immediate patient recall after cervical spine manipulative therapy was performed in a private clinic. The group consisted of 94 sequentially presenting neck pain and/or headache patients with 54 (57%) females and 40 (43%) males.

An analysis of the etiology of cervical artery dissections: 1994 to 2003.

Objective: To provide a literature review of the etiologic breakdown of cervical artery dissections.

Methods: A literature search of the MEDLINE database was conducted for English-language articles published from 1994 to 2003 using the search terms cervical artery dissection (CAD), vertebral artery dissection, and internal carotid artery dissection. Articles were selected for inclusion only if they incorporated a minimum of 5 case reports of CAD and contained sufficient information to ascertain a plausible etiology.