WHIPLASH
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury to the neck which
may occur following the sudden violent backwards and forwards
hyperextension and hyperflexion of the head. This type of
injury commonly occurs in automobile accidents, especially
when the patient is rear-ended. Whiplash may damage intervertebral
joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots
(see Anatomy). Symptoms may include neck pain or stiffness,
headache, dizziness, paresthesias (tingling or burning), and
shoulder, arm, back, face, and jaw pain. These symptoms may
be manifest immediately after the injury or may be delayed
for several days. In some cases, patients may experience somatic,
cognitive, or psychological conditions such as memory loss,
nervousness/irritability, sleep disturbance, fatigue, concentration
impairment, or depression.
How Common is Whiplash?
Approximately 1,000,000 people a year are
subjected to whiplash injury in the U.S., leading to chronic
pain and disability in 25%, while 14% will still have significant
pain more than 3 years after the accident.1 Because
the stress and injuries acquired during aging may weaken the
vertebrae, middle-aged individuals are generally more vulnerable
to anatomical injuries such as facet and nerve root damage.
Treatment Options?
Interventional Techniques
Injection therapy
* Epidural Blocks: Interlaminar
or transforaminal
* Facet Joint Blocks
* Discography
Medial Branch Neurotomy
Implantation of Morphine Pump
Spinal Cord Simulator Implantation
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