Abstract
Background:Whiplash has been suggested to cause chronic symptoms and long term disability. This study was designed to assess long term function after whiplash injury.Material & Methods:A random sample of patients in the outpatient clinic was interviewed, questionnaire completed and clinical examination performed. Assessment was made of passive cervical range of movement and Visual Analogue Scale pain scores. One hundred and sixty-four patients were divided into four different groups including patients with no whiplash injury but long-standing neck pain (Group A), previous symptomatic whiplash injury and long-standing neck pain (Group B), previous symptomatic whiplash injury and no neck symptoms (Group C), and a control group of patients with no history of whiplash injury or neck symptoms (Group D).Results:Data was analyzed by performing an Independent samples t-test and ANOVA, with level of significance taken as p<0.05. Comparing the four groups using a one-way ANOVA showed a significant difference between the groups (p<0.001). There were significant differences when comparing mean ranges of movement between Group A and Group D, and between Group B and Group D. There was no significant difference between Group C and Group D. similar differences were also seen in the pain scores.Conclusion:We conclude that osteoarthritis in the cervical spine, and whiplash injury with chronic problems cause a significantly decreased cervical range of movement with a higher pain score. Patients with shorter duration of whiplash symptoms appear to do better in the long-term.
Highlights
There are many terms and definitions for whiplash injury including neck or cervical sprain/strain, cervical acceleration-deceleration injury and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
Following completion of the questionnaire, the patients were divided into groups based on their history of road traffic accidents, whiplash injury, cervical osteoarthritis clinically or undiagnosed long-standing neck pain
These consisted of Group A including patients with no previous history of whiplash injury but those that had been diagnosed either with cervical osteoarthritis clinically or undiagnosed long-standing neck pain
Summary
There are many terms and definitions for whiplash injury including neck or cervical sprain/strain, cervical acceleration-deceleration injury and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD). This injury is best described as an “Injury to one or more elements of the cervical spine that arises from inertial forces being applied to the head in the course of a motor vehicle accident that results in the perception of neck pain” [1]. Not all recipients of a whiplash injury may attend the Accident andEmergency department or claim compensation. Whiplash has been suggested to cause chronic symptoms and long term disability. This study was designed to assess long term function after whiplash injury
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