Influencia de diversos factores en la discapacidad producida tras esguince cervical por accidente de tráfico

Abstract

Background and objectives Whiplash syndrome constitutes an increasing sociosanitary problem, the objectives are: 1) To establish the possible relationships between clinical, functional and psychosocial factors and their influence on rehabilitation; 2) To check if the alterations observed in the complementary test influences the magnitude of symptoms and rehabilitation outcomes. Subjects and methods 115 patients with cervical sprain (because of a traffic accident), voluntarily agree to take part of the study, symptoms and signs, psychological features, occupational and social factors and functional capacity are analized (Occhipinti and Northwick questionnaires). Determinations are carried out before and after a rehabilitation program, beging evaluated by Norris′scales and Gargan. In 55 patients MRI values, radiology and neurophysiological study are valued. Results A clear relationship doesn′t exist between the severity of the symptoms and the physical signs, except in the initial phase (p<0.05). Functional alteration is proportional to the intensity of the clinical disorder (p<0001). Certain contribution of the psycho-social features in the intensity of referred pain and functional limitation (p<0.05). The severity of the disorder is associated with longer treatment (p<0.01) but there is no significant difference of the outcome of the treatment in the clinical types. The functional capacity is not affected in major degree in view to changes in the tests. Conclusions The analyzed factors seem to predict the duration of treatment but not the outcome of the same one. The chronic pain and the disability they seem to be independent from the alterations demonstrated in the complementary tests.