The Effect of Accident Mechanisms and Initial Findings on the Long-Term Outcome of Whiplash Injury

Objectives

To analyze the relationship between somatic, radiological and neuropsychological findings and features of the accident mechanisms assessed early after trauma and long-term outcome after whiplash injury.

Findings

Patients who remained symptomatic during two years of trauma were older, showed more rotated or inclined head position at the time of impact, had higher prevalence of pre-traumatic headache, scored higher on ratings of initial neck pain and headache, displayed 48a greater variety of symptoms, had a higher incidence of symptoms of radicular deficit and higher average scores on a multiple symptom analysis, and showed more osteoarthrosis on x-ray. These same patients, in addition, on testing showed impaired well-being and deficient attentional processing, and had more concern with regard to long-term suffering and disability.

Conclusions

These findings essentially support the view that a poor outcome in the long-term after whiplash injury is primarily related to its initial severity. [Article copies available from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworth.com]