Asubluxation is an incomplete or partialdislocation of ajoint ororgan.[1] According to theWorld Health Organization, a subluxation is a "significant structural displacement" and is therefore visible on static imaging studies, such asX-rays.[2][3][4] Unlike real subluxations, thepseudoscientific concept of achiropractic "vertebral subluxation" may or may not be visible on x-rays.
The term is used in the fields ofmedicine,dentistry, and chiropractic. There is no scientific evidence for the existence of chiropractic subluxations or proof they or their treatment have any effects on health.
A subluxation of ajoint is where a connecting bone is partially out of the joint.[5] In contrast to a luxation, which is a complete separation of the joint, a subluxation often returns to its normal position without additional help from ahealth professional.[6] An example of a joint subluxation is anursemaid's elbow, which is the subluxation of the head of theradius from theannular ligament. Other joints that are prone to subluxations are theshoulders,fingers,kneecaps, ribs, wrists, ankles, and hips affected byhip dysplasia. A spinal subluxation is visible on X-rays and can sometimes impinge onspinal nerve roots, causing symptoms in the areas served by those roots. In the spine, such a displacement may be caused by afracture,spondylolisthesis,rheumatoid arthritis,[7] severeosteoarthritis, falls, accidents and other traumas.
A subluxation of thelens within theeye is calledectopia lentis, wherein it is displaced or malpositioned.[8] Subluxated lenses are frequently found in those who have had ocular trauma and those with certain systemic disorders, such asMarfan syndrome,Ehlers–Danlos syndrome,Loeys–Dietz syndrome andhomocystinuria. Some subluxated lenses may require removal, as in the case of those that float freely or those that have opacified to formcataracts.[citation needed]
A subluxation of a tooth is adental traumatic injury in which thetooth has increased mobility but has not been displaced from themandible ormaxilla. This is a common condition and one of the most common dental traumatic disorders.[9] Dental subluxation is a non-dental-urgency condition, i.e., unlikely to result in significant morbidity if not seen within 24 hours by adentist,[10] and usually treated conservatively: goodoral hygiene with 0.12%chlorhexidine gluconatemouthwash, a soft and cold diet, and avoidance ofsmoking for several days.[10] Inpainful situations, a temporary splinting of the injured tooth may relieve thepain.[11]
Subluxation may also occur in themandible from the articular groove of the temporal bone.[12] The mandible can dislocate in the anterior, posterior, lateral, or superior position. Description of the dislocation is based on the location of the condyle in comparison to the temporal articular groove.[13]
Unlike real subluxations, thepseudoscientific concept of achiropractic "vertebral subluxation" may or may not be visible on x-rays. Nor may it involve a significant displacement or even pain or clear dysfunction.[14]Straight chiropractors claim that vertebral subluxation has considerable health effects and also add a visceral component to the definition. Mainstream medicine and somemixer chiropractors consider these ideas to be pseudoscientific and dispute these claims, as there is no scientific evidence for the existence of chiropractic subluxations or proof they or their treatment have any effects on health.[15][16][17][18][19][20]
A significant and continuing barrier to scientific progress within chiropractic are the anti-scientific and pseudo-scientific ideas (Keating 1997b) which have sustained the profession throughout a century of intense struggle with political medicine. Chiropractors' tendency to assert the meaningfulness of various theories and methods as a counterpoint to allopathic charges of quackery has created a defensiveness which can make critical examination of chiropractic concepts difficult (Keating and Mootz 1989). One example of this conundrum is the continuing controversy about the presumptive target of DCs' adjustive interventions: subluxation (Gatterman 1995; Leach 1994).