Project objectives:

I aim to develop a clinical screening tool to identify primary care patients with neck pain and headache who may have a cervical artery dissection. The specific objectives are:

  1. To synthesize the evidence on the risk factors for a cervical artery dissection.

  2. To develop a clinical screening tool to identify individuals with neck pain or headache who could have a cervical artery dissection.

  3. To determine the inter-rater reliability of the clinical screening tool among primary care providers (i.e. chiropractors, physiotherapists, family physicians) who manage patients with neck pain and headaches.

Supervisor: Dr. Pierre Côté

Josh Plener, BSc, DC, MSc, FCCS(C)

IDRR Student
Institution: University of Toronto

Project title: Development of a clinical screening tool for cervical artery dissection in patients with neck pain or headache seeking care from primary care providers

Project background: Neck pain and headaches are very common causes of disability and a common reason to visit primary care providers such as manual therapists and family doctors. Although rare, cervical artery dissection is a potentially serious and life-threatening vascular condition that may be the cause of these patient symptoms as neck pain and headache are the most common early presenting symptoms of a cervical artery dissection, mimicking musculoskeletal conditions. In the absence of more serious signs and symptoms, it can be challenging to identify patients with neck pain and headache who could have a cervical artery dissection. There are no valid tools available in primary care to screen for a cervical artery dissection in progress.