A Clinical Study on Whiplash Injury

Jahng, Jun Seop; Chung, In Hee; Kim, Kwang Hai

Abstract

In recent years, with increased number and higher speed of the automobiles, the incidence of the so-called whiplash injury has been increasing. The author had studied the clinical symptoms and signs, roentgenographic findings, associated injuries and treatment of the sixty four patients who had admitted to the Yonsei Medical Center under the diagnosis of the whiplash injury excluding the patients who had sustained an associated injuries those may cause neurologic symptoms and signs during the period of eight years from January, 1972 to December, 1979. and sumnerized the results as followings. 1. Among the sixty four patients, thirty one (48.4%) were male and thirty three (51.6%) were female. The most prevalent age were third and fourth decades (62.5%). 2. The causes were rear-end collision, falling of a car, front-end collision, falling of an airplane in an air-pocket and sudden deceleration of a car in the order of frequency. 3. The admission period were longest in the cases of falling of a car (13.3 days) and shortest in the cases of sudden deceleration of a car (9.4 days). 4. Fifty one (79.7%) were returned to the general activity in two weeks and fifty seven (89.1%) were out of the hospital in three weeks. 5. On admission. the patients were suffered from the symptoms and signs as followings, headache, limitation of the motion in neck, neckache, paresthesia, dizziness and dysphagia in the order of frequency. 6. Roentgenograms show loss of lordotic curve in twenty eight (43.7%) and prevertebral swelling in seven (10.3%). 7. Thirty six (56.3%) were associated with other injuries as followings; multiple contusion, teeth injuries, scalp laceration. There were thirteen cases (36.1%) of cerebral concussion. 8. In all the cases, we used analgegics and muscle relaxants until the neck pain subsided. We had performed cervical traction, hot packs in selected cases. Twelve (18.8%) needed cervical braces or Thomas collar at discharge.