title: Pediatric Chiropractic Care: The Subluxation Question And Referral Risk.
abstract: Chiropractors commonly treat children for a variety of ailments by manipulating the spine to correct a 'vertebral subluxation' or a 'vertebral subluxation complex' alleged to be a cause of disease. Such treatment might begin soon after a child is born. Both major American chiropractic associations - the International Chiropractic Association and the American Chiropractic Association - support chiropractic care for children, which includes subluxation correction as a treatment or preventive measure. I do not know of any credible evidence to support chiropractic subluxation theory. Any attempt to manipulate the immature, cartilaginous spine of a neonate or a small child to correct a putative chiropractic subluxation should be regarded as dangerous and unnecessary. Referral of a child to a chiropractor for such treatment should not be considered lest a bad outcome harms the child or leads to a charge of negligence or malpractice.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Homola
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002684:Chiropractic / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012306:Risk; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States
keywords: children; chiropractic manipulation; epiphyseal injury; referral risk; subluxations