Whiplash (medicine)

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Whiplash
Synonyms	Cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) syndrome
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Orthopedics, Neurology, Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Symptoms	Neck pain, headache, dizziness, shoulder pain, back pain
Complications	N/A
Onset	Sudden onset
Duration	Days to weeks, sometimes longer
Types	N/A
Causes	Motor vehicle collision, sports injuries, falls
Risks	Previous neck injury, high-speed collision
Diagnosis	Clinical diagnosis, imaging studies
Differential diagnosis	Cervical fracture, cervical disc herniation, concussion
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Pain management, physical therapy, rest
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Varies, some may have chronic symptoms
Frequency	Common in motor vehicle accidents
Deaths	N/A

Whiplash

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<ref>,

 Scientific monograph of the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders: redefining "whiplash" and its management, 
 Spine, 
 
 Vol. 20(Issue: 8 Suppl),
 pp. 1S–73S,
 DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199501001-00001,
 PMID: 7604354,</ref> 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 commonly used to describe a range of injuries.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms reported by patients that are associated with the whiplash mechanism of injury include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headache
• Shoulder pain and stiffness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Jaw pain
• Arm pain
• Arm weakness
• Visual disturbances
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Back pain<ref>,

 A review and methodologic critique of the literature refuting whiplash syndrome, 
 Spine, 
 
 Vol. 24(Issue: 1),
 pp. 86–96,
 DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199901010-00022,
 PMID: 9921598,</ref>

Causes

Whiplash is commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents, usually when the vehicle has been hit in the rear.<ref>,

 A review and methodologic critique of the literature refuting whiplash syndrome, 
 Spine, 
 
 Vol. 24(Issue: 1),
 pp. 86–96,
 DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199901010-00022,
 PMID: 9921598,</ref>

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of whiplash is usually made on the basis of the patient's history and the clinical examination.<ref>,

 A review and methodologic critique of the literature refuting whiplash syndrome, 
 Spine, 
 
 Vol. 24(Issue: 1),
 pp. 86–96,
 DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199901010-00022,
 PMID: 9921598,</ref>

Treatment

The treatment of whiplash is usually conservative and includes:

• Physical therapy
• Pain medication
• Possibly injections<ref>,

 A review and methodologic critique of the literature refuting whiplash syndrome, 
 Spine, 
 
 Vol. 24(Issue: 1),
 pp. 86–96,
 DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199901010-00022,
 PMID: 9921598,</ref>

See also

• Neck pain
• Soft tissue injury
• Traffic collision

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