J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1993 Oct; 16(8): 550-5.

Chiropractic adjustment to the cervical spine and the Arnold-Chiari malformation.

Murphy DR, Goldstein D, Katz M.

Postgraduate Faculty, New York Chiropractic College.

OBJECTIVE: To present two cases in which patients with Type I Arnold-Chiari malformation (ACM) were treated with adjustments to the cervical spine for conditions unrelated to the anomaly. CLINICAL FEATURES: The ACM is an anomaly of central nervous system development in which structures from the posterior fossa descend below the level of the foramen magnum. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patients reported were adjusted multiple times to the cervical spine. No ill effects or complications were noted related to the ACM. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic Type I ACM is not necessarily a contraindication to skilled adjustments to the cervical spine.