Bilateral simultaneous optic nerve dysfunction after periorbital trauma: recovery of vision in association with with chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the recovery of optic nerve function after chiropractic spinal manipulation in a patient with loss of vision as a result of facial fracture from a fall.


METHODS
In a fall down a stairwell, a 53-year-old woman with migraines fractured her right zygomatic arch, which was later treated surgically. Approximately 3 weeks after the accident, vision in her contralateral eye became reduced to light perception. Electrophysiologic studies revealed that the function of both optic nerves was diminished, the right significantly more than the left. Single photon emission tomography showed pancerebral ischemic foci.


RESULTS
Chiropractic spinal manipulation was used to aid recovery of vision to normal over a course of 20 treatment sessions. At times, significant improvement in vision occurred immediately after spinal manipulation. Progressive recovery of vision was monitored by serial visual field tests and by electrophysiologic studies. Unfortunately, the patient refused a further single photon emission tomographic study when visual recovery was complete.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report adds to previous accounts of progressive and expeditious recovery of optic nerve function in association with spinal manipulation therapy.
Stephens
D
D
Macquarie University School of Chiropractic, Sydney, Australia.
Pollard
H
H
Bilton
D
D
Thomson
P
P
Gorman
F
F
D002684:Chiropractic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020393:Manipulation, Spinal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000209:etiology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology