CJA Vol.35 Issue 4Editorial: Is Subluxation Our Worst Enemy? - p121
ABSTRACTS KELLY R. HOLT and RANDY W. BECK Objective: To report the basic characteristics of new chiropractic patients presenting to the New Zealand College of Chiropractic teaching clinic. Design and Outcome Variables: Retrospective analysis of 1,004 new patient files opened between 1997 and 2001. Age, gender and chief complaint were recorded. Results: Some 51.9% of patients were female. The mean age was 32.3 years, and age range was 0-85 years. The most common chief complaint was low back pain (38.1%). Overall spinal problems accounted for 64.4% of chief complaints, and 11.6% of patients presented for wellness care with no complaint present. Conclusion: Patients presenting to the New Zealand College of Chiropractic teaching clinic showed many similarities with teaching clinics in the United States of America and Australia. Some discrepancies were noted, however, between the patient characteristics at the teaching clinic and the general New Zealand population. INDEX TERMS: MeSH: CHIROPRACTIC; DEMOGRAPHY; NEW ZEALAND; PATIENTS; TEACHING; CLINICS. Chiropr J Aust 2005; 35:122-4 Adjusting the Record: Revealing More of the Story! R. GRAHAM HUNT Close analysis of materials made available to the profession by the late Mrs Margaret Baker (granddaughter of Barbara Brake) and her husband Arthur Baker has shed light on inaccuracies and conjecture that have previously appeared in the literature. Careful scrutiny of these documents has allowed the author to retrace the world travels of the Brake family with considerable accuracy, and thereby clear up a number of mysteries and misconceptions about their connection with chiropractic and other new healing arts. Further research into the public life of James Hugh Brake has also shed light on the background and character of this remarkable turn-of-the-century figure. INDEX TERMS: (MeSH) AUSTRALIA; CHIROPRACTIC; HISTORY OF CHIROPRACTIC; 20th CENTURY; CORRECTING AND ADJUSTING; WASHINGTON; DAVENPORT. Chiropr J Aust 2005; 35:93-100. Stress Fracture of T7 Pedicles: Report of a Rare Case ROBERT J. BAILEY and PETER W. BULL The authors discuss a case of a professional rugby front-row forward who presented with bilateral pedicle stress fractures at T7 and relate the case to the relevant literature. The patient was evaluated with direct radiography, scintigraphy, MRI and high-resolution CT with axial, coronal, sagittal and oblique reconstructions. These investigations were conducted over a 12-month period following the onset of mild thoracic pain. Traumatic spinal fracture dislocations with minimal or no cord injury are extremely rare, with only 15 cases reported in the scientific literature to date. The patient’s radiological findings were evaluated and compared with the 15 cases of pedicle shear fractures reported by Shapiro et al. in 2002. The presented patient had no specific history of trauma and developed gradual pain from repeated scrummaging. The authors have been unable to find any reported case of bilateral thoracic pedicle fractures that have not resulted from some form of severe injury or iatrogenesis, and believe the following case to be the first reported case of bilateral stress fractures of the thoracic pedicles (T7). INDEX TERMS: STRESS FRACTURE; PEDICLE; RUGBY; CT SCAN. Chiropr J Aust 2005; 35:140-2 Paediatric Patients Seeking Chiropractic Care: An Australian Case Study JENNIFER R. JAMISON and NEIL J. DAVIES Chiropractors qualify as primary care providers. As such chiropractors are likely to encounter patients in all age groups, however paediatrics and geriatrics are regarded as specialties in medical circles. This pilot study explores the chiropractic care of paediatric patients. Method: Thirty chiropractors were requested to record the age, diagnosis and treatment offered to all persons 18 years old and under who attended their clinics during the study period. Results: Chiropractors take care of paediatric patients with ages ranging from a week to 18 years. The chiropractors’ focus in all age groups is overwhelmingly on spinal diagnosis and treatment. Maintenance care is offered to all age groups. In this study, only patients 6 years and older presented with either headache or backache. Conclusion: Chiropractors focus on the spinal care of their paediatric patient population. Despite a good safety record, in view of the vulnerability of the very young and the unusual presentation of certain serious medical conditions in this age group, team care of the very young would seem prudent. INDEX TERMS: CHIROPRACTIC; PAEDIATRIC; SAFETY. Chiropr J Aust 2005; 35:143-6. Best of Books for 2005-With Critical Self-Reflection PHILLIP EBRALL Reviews are presented of a number of books published during 2005. A variety of publications for the year were selectively sampled by the author as to whether or not they held relevance to the clinical practice of chiropractic and its contemporary context. Twenty-eight texts and a DVD-set were chosen for inclusion in this review addressing a range of clinical and professional issues. The reviews are gathered under the headings Patient Centred, History, Clinical Practice, Clinical Technique, Basic/Clinical Science, Professional Development/Marketing, Critical Thinking, and Reference. There are two new works on chiropractic technique and several new editions of works by authors who are widely respected by chiropractors including Meridel Gatterman (Foundations – Subluxation 2e) and Greg Cramer (Basic Clinical Anatomy of the Spine 2e). This paper is the tenth consecutive Best of Books paper and commences with a critical self-reflection on the review process as presented in this style of paper. As in previous years the inescapable conclusion is that chiropractors continue to be sustained by high quality texts that provide strong support for many aspects of professional practice. INDEX TERMS: MeSH: CHIROPRACTIC; AUSTRALIA. Chiropr J Aust 2005; 35:147-60. |
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