Whiplash injury

Whiplash is a non-medical term describing a range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck associated with rapid acceleration-deceleration forces. It occurs most commonly in motor vehicle accidents. The term "whiplash" was first used in 1928, and despite its not being a medical term, it is frequently used for this type of injury.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms reported by patients that are associated with the whiplash syndrome include: neck pain and stiffness, headache, shoulder pain and stiffness, dizziness, fatigue, jaw pain, arm pain, arm weakness, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears and back pain.

Causes

The most common cause of whiplash is a motor vehicle accident. The speed of the cars involved in the accident or the amount of physical damage to the car may not relate to the intensity of neck injury; speeds as low as 15 miles per hour can produce enough energy to cause whiplash in occupants, whether or not they wear seat belts.

Diagnosis

Whiplash injuries can be difficult to diagnose because they do not show up on an X-ray, CT scan or an MRI scan. The diagnosis is usually made based on the patient's symptoms and the doctor's physical examination.

Treatment

The mainstay of treatment is supportive care and time. Most whiplash injuries heal within weeks. The goal of treatment is to control pain, restore normal range of motion in the neck, and return the individual to normal activities.

See also

• Neck pain
• Soft tissue injury
• Traffic collision

References

Whiplash injury Resources
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