Crib Death (SIDS)
Studies have revealed a correlation between
spinal abnormalities, including trauma and crib death or
SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
Sudden infant death syndrome--United
States, 1983-1994. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1996 Oct 11;45(40):859-63
(ISSN: 0149-2195)
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is "the sudden death
of an infant under 1 year of age which remains unexplained
after a thorough case investigation, including performance
of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and
review of the clinical history." Although SIDS is a
diagnosis of exclusion and of unknown etiology, it is the
leading cause of post neonatal mortality in the United States,
accounting for approximately one-third of all such deaths.
This report analyzes age-, race-, and region-specific trends
for SIDS in the United States during 1983-1994 (the latest
year for which final data are available) and indicates that
annual rates of SIDS declined more than three times faster
during 1990-1994 than during 1983-1989.
Atlanto-Occipital hyper mobility in sudden infant death
syndrome. Hospers LA, et al. Today's Chiropractic Jan/Feb,
1990; 19 (1): 36-40.
Upper cervical instability along with atlas
inversion into the foramen magnum can cause incomplete or
temporary compromise to the blood supply of the upper spinal
cord and brain stem. This can cause impairment of the respiratory
centers in the medulla (brain stem) as seen in "chronic intermittent
hypoxia" (long-term decrease in oxygen) present at autopsies
of SIDS cases.
High cervical stress and apnoea. Forensic Sci
Int 1998 Oct 12;97(1):1-9 Koch LE, Biedermann H, Saternus
KS. Institute of Forensic Medicine, Univ of Gottingen, Germany.
The aim of this study was to investigate vegetative reactions
in infants after mechanical irritation of the suboccipital
region. 199 infants were observed while being treated with
a suboccipital impulse (manual therapy). The results revealed
vegetative reactions in more than half of all cases (52.8%,
n = 105). The frequency of such vegetative reactions observed
was at follows: flush 48.7% (n = 97), apnoea 22.1% (n = 44),
hyperextension 13% (n = 26), and sweating 7.5% (n = 15).
Approximately
25% of all the infants examined reacted by apnoea due to
a mechanical irritation of the suboccipital region. This
symptom was part of an extensive vegetative reaction. This
method of inducing an apnoea has not yet been described;
from this it follows that there are close relations to sudden
infant death.
Latent spinal cord and brain stem injury in newborn infants.
Towbin, A, Dev Med Child Neuro. 11:54-68, 1969.
Autopsy of infants
who died of SIDS revealed blood in the spinal cord, which
the author hypothesized, was due to obstetrical trauma.
Atlanto-occipital
hypermobility in sudden infant death syndrome. Schneier M,
Burns R.
Released by Association for Research in Chiropractic.
April, 1989. Also published in Chiropractic: The Journal of
Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation Vol. 7, No.
2, July 1991.
This was a triple blinded x-ray study. Seventy-four
infant cadavers were X-rayed; fifty of the sets of films were
readable with sufficient confidence to make measurements. Evaluation
of the data indicated that all deceased infants exhibiting
atlas inversion into foramen magnum were victims of SIDS,
but not all SIDS infants exhibited atlas inversion.
This corroborates
the work of Giles et al regarding atlanto-occipital instability,
atlas inversion, and unexplained infant death.
Infantile atlanto-occipital
instability. Giles FH, Bina M, Sotrel A. AM J Dis Child 1979;133:30.
In
a study of 17 infant cadavers the author found instability
in the atlanto-occipital level in some of the infants.
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2004 Koren Publications, Inc. & Tedd Koren,
D.C.