Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd. 2002 Sep; 219(9): 673-6.

[Horner's syndrome in dissection of the carotid artery after chiropractic manipulation]

Gamer D, Schuster A, Aicher K, Apfelstedt-Sylla E.

Universitäts-Augenklinik Tübingen, Abteilung für Pathophysiologie des Sehens und Neuroophthalmologie, Germany. daphne.gamer@med.uni-tuebingen.de

CASE REPORT: We report on a 37-year old patient with sudden onset of pain of the right scalp and an ipsilateral small pupil, presenting five weeks after chiropractic manipulation of the neck. METHODS/RESULTS: Pharmacologic pupil testing showed a postganglionic Horner's syndrome on the right side. Magnetic resonance angiography confirmed the diagnosis of a dissection of the right internal carotid artery at a subacute stage. CONCLUSION: There appears to be a causal relationship between carotid artery dissection and the chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine. Ophthalmological signs played the key role in detecting this complication.