Prolotherapy-induced Cervical Spinal Cord Injury - A Case Report

Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2011 · DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5535/arm.2011.35.4.570 · Published: August 1, 2011

Spinal Cord Injury Alternative Medicine Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

Prolotherapy involves injecting substances into ligaments or tendons to relieve pain. The idea is to trigger inflammation that promotes tissue repair. This case report describes a patient who experienced a rare complication, cervical spinal cord injury, following prolotherapy in the upper cervical region. The patient experienced electric shock sensations and persistent numbness after the procedure, leading to a diagnosis of spinal cord injury via MRI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

One 49-year-old male

Evidence Level

Level 4, Case Report

Key Findings

1
A 49-year-old man experienced a spinal cord injury after receiving prolotherapy in the upper cervical region.
2
MRI revealed a 0.7 cm lesion on the right side of the spinal cord at the C4-C5 level.
3
Conservative treatment, including physiotherapy and medication, reduced the patient's pain level.

Research Summary

This case report describes a rare complication of prolotherapy, cervical spinal cord injury, in a 49-year-old male. The patient presented with electric shock sensations and numbness following prolotherapy, and MRI confirmed spinal cord injury at C4-C5. The authors suggest that prolotherapy and other invasive procedures should be performed by experienced professionals with a thorough understanding of anatomy to minimize the risk of complications.

Practical Implications

Informed Consent

Patients undergoing prolotherapy should be informed of the rare but potential risk of spinal cord injury.

Operator Skill

Prolotherapy should be performed by experienced practitioners with a strong understanding of spinal anatomy.

Further Observation

Even with initial improvement, patients need observation to check for delayed neurological impairment.

Study Limitations

1
Single case report limits generalizability.
2
Lack of detailed information on the injection technique used at the local clinic.
3
Electrodiagnostic abnormalities were not definite.

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