Risks of Medical Malpractice During Manipulation Under Anesthesia

Medical Malpractice comes in all shapes and sizes. Procedures that doctors promote as safe, are often anything but. One such Medical Procedure is Manipulation Under Anesthesia. This is a procedure for people suffering from adverse effects of injuries, often from an accident, and in the following circumstances:

•  Patient has failed to response to other types of conservative management.
•  Have a chronic and recurring condition.
•  Causes disability that has been shown to response to MUA
•  Suffers with severe symptoms that can be temporarily relieved by the MUA procedure.

Additional conditions may cause for use of alternative treatments in patients who suffer from neck pain, mid back and lower back pain, chronic muscle pain and inflammation, and acute and chronic muscle spasm. Patients with a decrease spinal range of motion and chronic fibrositis and pseudo-sciatica where disc bulges are contained less than 5mm are good candidates for this form of treatment.

Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) is the process of using manipulation and mobilization techniques for a patient who has been placed in a state of unconsciousness or conscious sedation. This is a process undergone by patients to reduce and facilitate motion of restricted articulations. Use of the anesthesia assists in relaxing the patient while circumventing reflex spasm and pain avoidance.

Adverse Effects to MUA

The following severe adverse effects can occur from a MUA with use of anesthesia.

•  Anaphylaxis
•  Respiratory and Cardiac Failure
•  Coma
•  Death

Additional effects caused by the suppression of splinting and stabilizing can occur.

•  Vascular Damage
•  Muscular Damage
•  Ligamentous Damage
•  Osseous Damage

Manipulation Under Anesthesia Side Effect Statistics

Approximately 55% of over 1,058 patients are reported to have underwent a MUA and suffered at least one unpleasant reaction to spinal manipulative therapy. The following side effects were reported by these patients.

• Local Discomfort – 53%
• Headache – 12%
• Tiredness – 11%
• Radiating Discomfort – 10%
• Mild or Moderate Reaction – 85%
• Short Lived Reactions within 24 Hours – 74%
• Uncommon Reactions of Dizziness and Nausea – <5%

As a Miami Medical Malpractice lawyer, I would urge you to proceed with caution, and ask the doctor to fully explain all the risks and benefits of the suggested treatment. For example, what type of benefit does the doctor anticipate? will you get your full range of motion?