In Memoriam: Fred H. Barge - p117

Letters to the Editors - p118

ABSTRACTS

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting as Low Back Pain: A Case Report

COLIN M. CRAWFORD

Objective: To report the case of a 73-year-old male with low back pain presenting to a chiropractic teaching clinic in whom an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was fortuitously found on plain film radiography. Clinical Features: The patient presented with a 3-week history of sudden onset low back pain of minimal-to-moderate severity, which he attributed to walking. The physical examination findings, including an unremarkable abdominal examination, suggested a diagnosis of acute mechanical low back pain. Plain film radiographs demonstrated an AAA measuring 8.5 cm in transverse diameter. In a retrospective file review, clinical risk factors for AAA were present. Intervention and Outcome: The patient was referred to his general medical practitioner and subsequently to a vascular surgeon. He underwent surgical repair with Dacron graft prosthesis. His back pain resolved the day after surgery. Conclusion: AAA may present as low back pain, and thus it is important to actively exclude the condition in ‘at risk’ patients. Risk factors include male patients 65 years and older presenting with abdominal and/or low back pain, a significant smoking history, increased weight, cardiovascular disease, vascular claudication, chronic obstructive airway disease, and a first degree relative with AAA. Patients at risk need urgent referral for appropriate imaging and/or vascular surgical opinion.

INDEX TERMS: ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM; LOW BACK PAIN; CHIROPRACTIC.

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Demographics and Diagnostic Profile of Patients Presenting to a University Chiropractic Outpatient Clinic

SANDY BRYANT, BRETT W. ATKINS, and PETER W. BULL

Objective: To report the demographic and diagnostic profiles of patients attending the Macquarie University Department of Chiropractic Clinic and Research Centre, Summer Hill, upon initial consultation. Design and Outcome Variables: Researchers reviewed and collected data from 1018 new patient files covering the period 1999-2001. Data collected consisted of age, sex, marital status, financial status, postcode, symptomatic region and diagnosis. Results: Of the 1018 patient files reviewed, 70% of patients were aged between 22 and 51 years of age. Patients were predominantly from the local area with no major gender bias detected. A total of 40% of patients had symptoms in the lumbar region, and the most common diagnosis was facet syndrome. Conclusion: Whilst most of the findings were similar to those in other studies, a few differences were noted. The occurrence of disc injuries was significantly lower than those found in the general population, while gender and marital status also differed.

INDEX TERMS: DEMOGRAPHICS; CHIROPRACTIC; PROFILE; TEACHING; CLINIC

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The Effect of Cervical Spine Manipulation on Motor Control in Healthy Individuals: A Pilot Study

BRIAN ENEBO

Objective: To evaluate the effect of spinal manipulation on motor control and feedback processes in health individuals. Design: Pilot study. Setting and Participants: Eight participants recruited from a private chiropractic practice and from a chiropractic college. Intervention: Participants were assigned either to a treatment or control group and learned a cervical spine rotation task to 3 targets: 30o (left rotation, 0o (centre) and 20o (right rotation). Treatment participants received cervical spine manipulation between acquisition (knowledge of results trials) and retention (no knowledge of results trials). Control participants received cervical spine orthopaedic procedures between acquisition and retention. Main Outcome Measures: To evaluate whether high velocity, low amplitude cervical spine manipulation would improve cervical spine rotation accuracy and variability compared to a control group. Dependent measures included absolute error, variable error and total variability. Results: There was no significant difference between groups in acquisition. Significance was found between groups during retention for the right (20o) and centre (0o) targets only. Conclusions: Cervical spine joint manipulation improved overall movement accuracy and overall movement variability but did not improve participant individual variability.

INDEX TERMS: CHIROPRACTIC; SPINAL MANIPULATION; CERVICAL SPINE; ERROR DETECTION; ERROR CORRECTION.

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The Palmer School of Chiropractic: Development of the Faculty 1906-1945

Rolf E. Peters and Mary Ann Chance

As many of the chiropractors practising in Australia prior to the end of World War II had attended the Palmer School of Chiropractic, an attempt is made to trace the development of the Palmer Faculty during the 40-year period of 1906-1945.

INDEX TERMS: MeSH: CHIROPRACTIC; HISTORICAL ARTICLE. Other: PALMER SCHOOL OF CHIROPRACTIC.

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