Cortical Blindness, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Recurring Otitis Media: A Case Study in Chiropractic Management.

Cortical Blindness, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Recurring Otitis Media: A Case Study in Chiropractic Management.
Journal Today’s Chiropractic; Vol 27, No 3: 16-25

INTRODUCTION

The role of the upper cervical spine in the etiology of visceral conditions remains controversial. The standard medical etiological paradigm of cortical blindness, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy is accepted as permanent damage to the cerebral cortex and/or cerebellum secondary to either anoxia, trauma, perinatal injuries, disorders of metabolism, space occupying lesions, degenerative disorders, infectious diseases, or entities unknown (1,2). In the case of otitis media it is accepted that a bacterial or viral infection is secondary to prolonged effusion or immune suppression (1,2). Thus, it can be understood that the contribution of aberrant upper cervical arthrokinematics has largely been ignored by most, considered to be of no significance by many, and emphasized by only a few. Even so, the body of literature detailing a possible upper cervical etiology, or at least contribution, is substantial; and the case made for greater recognition of the involvement of the upper cervical spine is compelling.

This article has three main objectives. The first is to present the clinical picture of a patient, with a constellation of medically diagnosed conditions, that has been given almost no hope of improvement. Secondly, the presentation of a chiropractic evaluation method focusing upon the detection of abnormal upper cervical biomechanics and neuropathophysiology. And lastly, to detail the management and outcome of the patient via correction of occipito-atlanto-axial biomechanics using a specific upper cervical approach which combines specialized adjusting procedures with objective neurophysiological monitoring