.
Andrew Dorough DC, DACCP & Joel Alcantara, DC, PhD
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ May 27, 2025 ~ Volume 2025 ~ Pages 29-44
.
Abstract
Objective: To describe the chiropractic care of a 16-day-old female infant suffering from multiple symptom complex as a result of birth trauma.
Clinical Features: The infant was presented by her mother with fracture to the right clavicle attributed to birth trauma and associated chief complaints of breastfeeding difficulties, excessive crying and disturbed sleep. Physical examination revealed the infant as preferring to turn their head to the right and fixated in a right lateral flexion posture. The patient demonstrated restriction in motion in the cervical spine and at the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) resulting in decreased and asymmetrical opening of the jaw, particularly on the right side.
Intervention and Outcomes: The chiropractic care provided was Diversified Technique (i.e., “touch and hold”). Home care instructions were also given to the infant’s mother to apply a cool, moist washcloth compress to the infant’s cervical spine and right clavicle on a daily basis until the patient’s spinal and clavicular swelling was reduced appreciably. Over a one and a half month period and 10 chiropractic visits, the infant showed significant improvements, including increased cervical spine range of motion, better feeding, easier bowel movements, and improved sleep quality and the mother no longer experienced mastitis. Thereafter, continued chiropractic care was recommended to maximize the patient’s nervous system function and spinal growth and development.
Conclusion: This case report described the successful chiropractic care of an infant presenting with multiple symptom complex (i.e., clavicle fracture, breastfeeding difficulties, subluxations of cervico-cranio-mandibular complex) associated with birth trauma. We encourage continued documentation in the care of similar patients to inform higher level research designs (i.e., prospective cohort studies or randomized controlled clinical trials).
Keywords: birth trauma, vertebral subluxation, infant, clavicular fracture subluxation, TMJ, breastfeeding dysfunction, chiropractic, adjustment, spinal manipulation
