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- Whiplash and trauma resulting from motor vehicle collisions
Whiplash and trauma resulting from motor vehicle collisions
- By Dr. Kimberly Queen
- Published 05/24/2007
- Chiropractic medicine
2007 VOL 1, NO 3
In June of 2006, I attended the International Whiplash Trauma Congress presented by the Spinal Injury Foundation, and co-sponsored by Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine's Center for Health Communities and, my alma mater, Western States Chiropractic College. The speakers were a prestigious multidisciplinary faculty from biomechanics, chiropractic, engineering, epidemiology, medicine and neurophysiology. I am very impressed by the commitment of the international community to study whiplash and other motor vehicle crash- related injuries, and to share the trauma research and the latest developments in diagnosis and treatment.
The presentations addressed innovative issues, such as, the effects of head restraint types and injury complaints in low impact collisions and why some patients do not recover after a whiplash injury. I was very interested in the issues of posttraumatic stress disorder following whiplash injury, health outcomes following whiplash-associated disorders and the clinical and biomechanical aspects of rear impact induced trauma, because I routinely address these issues with my trauma patients and with personal injury attorneys who request my professional opinion.
The research evidence presented at the Congress mirrored my clinical experience; acute and, eventually, chronic pain is frequently encountered following whiplash injury, and approximately one fifth to one third of whiplash patients will experience chronic pain at 3 years. The cervical facet joints- the small joints of the neck bones- are implicated as the primary source of persistent posttraumatic pain. I received this information with mixed emotions: this outcome results for many of my patients, but I am not alone in treating these unfortunate cases. In my practice, I frequently see neck and low back ligament and disc problems caused by motor vehicle collisions. I rarely encounter neck fractures however, I see a number of mid back and low back spine fractures; these result from hyper flexion injury, whereby the spine curves violently forward (into a flexed position) that is, literally, "past the point of breaking".
Research shows that seat belts with shoulder harness restraints reduce traffic fatalities but the use of a seatbelt will predispose drivers and passengers to specific types of injuries during a motor vehicle collision. There is evidence that acute neck pain after a low-velocity or very-low-velocity rear impact may occur because of the effect of lap-and-shoulder seat belts; these devices amplify the injury potential. I actually see a multitude of injuries caused by restraints that "hold" during an impact, ranging from minor bruises and serious contusions to fractures of the collarbone, fractures of the breastbone (sternum), shoulder joint sprains and tearing of shoulder muscles. Seat belt design is "one size fits all" but this, unfortunately, leads to head, arm, knee and leg injury in people who are not optimally restrained during a collision.
Two new U.S. research studies reported on the effectiveness of chiropractic management for patients with acute and chronic neck pain, regardless of causation. In general, chiropractic treatment focuses on correcting specific joint and soft tissue dysfunction that underlies the pain and disability, and the chiropractic adjustment, which comprises specific joint manipulation and other manual procedures for joints and soft-tissues, has a central role in the treatment plan. Additional research reported that the combination of chiropractic manipulative treatment, soft-tissue release techniques and rehabilitative exercise is more effective in the management of whiplash injury than conventional physiotherapy treatment. I routinely employ this therapeutic approach in my management of neck and back pain patients, with successful outcomes. I am encouraged by the research evidence supporting my therapeutic goal-- to integrate the relief of symptoms with the restoration of normal function, and progress my patients toward functional independence.
- KD Queen, DC
In June of 2006, I attended the International Whiplash Trauma Congress presented by the Spinal Injury Foundation, and co-sponsored by Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine's Center for Health Communities and, my alma mater, Western States Chiropractic College. The speakers were a prestigious multidisciplinary faculty from biomechanics, chiropractic, engineering, epidemiology, medicine and neurophysiology. I am very impressed by the commitment of the international community to study whiplash and other motor vehicle crash- related injuries, and to share the trauma research and the latest developments in diagnosis and treatment.
The presentations addressed innovative issues, such as, the effects of head restraint types and injury complaints in low impact collisions and why some patients do not recover after a whiplash injury. I was very interested in the issues of posttraumatic stress disorder following whiplash injury, health outcomes following whiplash-associated disorders and the clinical and biomechanical aspects of rear impact induced trauma, because I routinely address these issues with my trauma patients and with personal injury attorneys who request my professional opinion.
The research evidence presented at the Congress mirrored my clinical experience; acute and, eventually, chronic pain is frequently encountered following whiplash injury, and approximately one fifth to one third of whiplash patients will experience chronic pain at 3 years. The cervical facet joints- the small joints of the neck bones- are implicated as the primary source of persistent posttraumatic pain. I received this information with mixed emotions: this outcome results for many of my patients, but I am not alone in treating these unfortunate cases. In my practice, I frequently see neck and low back ligament and disc problems caused by motor vehicle collisions. I rarely encounter neck fractures however, I see a number of mid back and low back spine fractures; these result from hyper flexion injury, whereby the spine curves violently forward (into a flexed position) that is, literally, "past the point of breaking".
Research shows that seat belts with shoulder harness restraints reduce traffic fatalities but the use of a seatbelt will predispose drivers and passengers to specific types of injuries during a motor vehicle collision. There is evidence that acute neck pain after a low-velocity or very-low-velocity rear impact may occur because of the effect of lap-and-shoulder seat belts; these devices amplify the injury potential. I actually see a multitude of injuries caused by restraints that "hold" during an impact, ranging from minor bruises and serious contusions to fractures of the collarbone, fractures of the breastbone (sternum), shoulder joint sprains and tearing of shoulder muscles. Seat belt design is "one size fits all" but this, unfortunately, leads to head, arm, knee and leg injury in people who are not optimally restrained during a collision.
Two new U.S. research studies reported on the effectiveness of chiropractic management for patients with acute and chronic neck pain, regardless of causation. In general, chiropractic treatment focuses on correcting specific joint and soft tissue dysfunction that underlies the pain and disability, and the chiropractic adjustment, which comprises specific joint manipulation and other manual procedures for joints and soft-tissues, has a central role in the treatment plan. Additional research reported that the combination of chiropractic manipulative treatment, soft-tissue release techniques and rehabilitative exercise is more effective in the management of whiplash injury than conventional physiotherapy treatment. I routinely employ this therapeutic approach in my management of neck and back pain patients, with successful outcomes. I am encouraged by the research evidence supporting my therapeutic goal-- to integrate the relief of symptoms with the restoration of normal function, and progress my patients toward functional independence.
- KD Queen, DC
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