Relationship Between Chiropractic And Stroke: Katie May Stroke Case

In early 2016, fans were shocked to learn that Katie May, a popular Playboy model and Snapchatter, had suffered a stroke and died following a chiropractic visit. The coroner ruled that a blunt force injury sustained during neck manipulation by the chiropractor had torn a hole in an artery in her neck. This cut off blood flow to the brain, which led to a stroke that ultimately caused Katie May’s death.

The formal name for such an injury is arterial dissection.

What Is Arterial Dissection?

Arterial Dissection occurs when an artery is twisted at high speed during a chiropractic adjustment resulting in tears inside the lining of the artery. The vertebral, carotid, and basilar arteries are all vulnerable to tears during neck manipulations. This danger is even higher for people who have risk factors for stroke such as high pressure and a history of smoking.

The Connection Between Arterial Dissection And Stroke

When an artery tears or dissects, blood can enter the aortic wall, which can weaken the aorta and lead to a rupture or leak or even burst the wall. This forms a clot, which can impede blood flow or break off and travel through the arteries to block blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke. This likely is what happened with Katie May.

Arterial dissection symptoms can take days or weeks to develop, or there may be no symptoms at all. It can happen suddenly, even in people who have had chiropractic care for years and never suffered any ill effects, and patients are often not warned of the risks of cervical manipulation before it’s done. They proceed with treatment with no inkling that it could lead to a stroke and the connection is not made until it’s too late.

Explore Your Legal Rights Under Orlando Personal Injury Law At DWKMRS

Strokes don’t always lead to death. They can also leave patients with lifelong, debilitating injuries, and astronomical medical bills. Entire lives can be changed by a stroke, but you do have a legal right to compensation.

If you or someone you love has had a stroke after a chiropractic manipulation, you may have grounds to pursue an Orlando arterial dissection or an Orlando medical malpractice case.

Ken McKenna is an Orlando chiropractic medical malpractice attorney who has successfully litigated arterial dissection cases and cases involving chiropractic care and stroke.

Contact Ken and the Orlando personal injury law team at Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna, Ruffier & Sos, LLP at 888-726-6735 or online to arrange a free consultation to discuss your situation.