Neck Solutions

Factors related with clinical evolution in whiplash

From: Med Clin (Barc). 2008 Jul 12;131(6):211-5

Factors of poor clinical recovery in acute whiplash are not conclusive. The goal of this prospective longitudinal study was to identify factors with influence in clinical evolution allowing identification of patients with risk for developing chronic symptoms and disabilities after an acute whiplash. Included were 226 patients who suffered acute whiplash after road traffic accident and met the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for medical evaluation and physiotherapy treatment. Variables were collected following a protocol designed for the study. All patients were assessed through the visual analogue scale for the intensity of neck pain, the Goldberg Depression and Anxiety Scale and the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire for neck functionality, at initial evaluation and at discharge of treatment.

Factors related with poor recovery of Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire at discharge were: number of days of neck immobilization with collar, presence of headache, dizziness, and dorsal pain at initial evaluation and initial evaluation of visual analogue scale score and Goldberg Depression and Anxiety Scale. In the multivaried analysis it was found that variables with influence on Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire at discharge were statistically significant for visual analogue scale, Goldberg depression subscale and Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire scores at initial evaluation. The most important factors that determine the evolution of patients with acute whiplash are the initial evaluation of the neck pain with the Visual Analogue Scale, the neck functionality with Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire and Goldberg Depression subscale.