Whiplash injury results from acceleration-deceleration forces applied to the neck, usually in a road traffic accident when the car of a person wearing a seat belt is struck from behind. Delayed recovery depends in part upon the severity of the initial injury. A simple decision plan based on clinical criteria helps to distinguish those most at risk and who warrant radiography. There is a low probability of serious bony injury if there is no midline cervical tenderness, no focal neurological deficit, normal alertness, no intoxication and no painful distracting injury. CT scans are reserved for those with bony injury. MRI scans occasionally show severe soft tissue injury. Whiplash injuries commonly lead to litigation.
Symptoms of whiplash injury:
Whiplash injury is a common cause of chronic neck pain, although most people recover within a few weeks or, months. The pattern of chronic neck pain is often complex, involving pain in the neck, shoulder and arm. Headache, dizziness, and loss of memory and poor concentration sometimes accompany this. The subjective nature of these symptoms has led to controversy about their cause. The problem is more commonly seen in industrialized countries. It has often been suggested that the syndrome is caused in part by the prospect of financial compensation. This may not be wholly conscious and may be contributed to in part by the conflictive nature of the compensation process. There appears to be a direct relationship between poor prognosis and potential for compensation - elimination of compensation for pain and suffering due to this type of injury may lead to an improved prognosis.
Treatment of whiplash injury:
Treatment is with reassurance (as the patient may be very anxious), analgesia, a short-term collar and physiotherapy. Pain may take a few weeks or months to settle and the patient should be warned of this.
See the other causes of neck pain
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