According to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ruth Jackson, 90% of chronic neck pain is due to trauma. 85% percent of neck trauma results from motor vehicle accidents. Orthopedic surgeons Gargan and Bannister note in studies:

  • 35% of those injured in motor vehicle collisions experienced a delay in symptoms, meaning they did not suffer from immediate symptomatology following the collision
  • Seat-belts did not offer protection against hyperextension whiplash injuries.
  • Injured patient tended to reach their final level of improvement by 2 years after injury
  • Patients with objective neurological signs and restriction of neck movement were more likely to experience continuing symptoms.
  • The fact that symptoms do not resolve even after a mean 10 years supports the conclusion that litigation does not prolong symptoms; all litigation had resolved by the follow up analysis.
Another study published in 1993, in the journal Injury titled Whiplash Injury and Surgically Treated Cervical Disc Disease, found the rate of surgery for those who suffered a previous whiplash injury to be twice that of the rest of the population. The study concludes:

  • "This study provides further evidence that whiplash injury causes structural changes predisposing to premature degenerative disc disease."
  • "These data suggests that the symptoms and signs of whiplash injury cannot be attributed solely to psychological factors and the organic pathology is a more constant explanation.
Whiplash

Importance of Proper Management & Treatment

The journal Injury published a study in 1996 titled, Chiropractic treatment of chronic 'whiplash' injuries. In this study authors Dr. Gargan and Bannister, both orthopedic surgeons note that 43% of patients will suffer long-term symptoms following 'whiplash' injury, for with no conventional treatment has proven to be effective. Therefore, they completed a retrospective study to determine the effects of chiropractic in a group of 28 patients who had been referred with chronic 'whiplash' syndrome. The severity of patients' symptoms was assessed before and after treatment using the Gargan and Bannister classification as noted above.

These authors also note that if whiplash patients are still symptomatic after 3 months then there is almost a 90% chance that they will remain so, and that no conventional treatment has proven to be effective in these established chronic cases. However, they did not consider chiropractic to be "conventional treatment."
The 28 chronic whiplash patients in this study were treated by chiropractor J. Cook, using "specific spinal manipulation, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and cryotherapy." The treatment was evaluated by an independent orthopedic surgeon, M. Woodward, who was blinded as to the treatment. "Spinal manipulation is a high-velocity low-amplitude thrust to a specific vertebral segment aimed at increasing the range of movement in the individual facet joint, breaking down adhesions and stimulating production of synovial fluid." The 28 patients in this study had initially been treated with anti-inflammatories, soft collars and physiotherapy. These patients had all become chronic, and were referred for chiropractic at an average of 15.5 months after their initial injury. Following chiropractic 93% of the patients had improved. These authors concluded: "The results of this retrospective study would suggest that benefits can occur in over 90% of patients undergoing chiropractic treatment for chronic whiplash injury."

Summary

Considering the potential for a delayed onset of symptoms as well as long term suffering and early degenerative disc and joint disease, early evaluation and proper treatment is essential to restore function and improve outcomes. Not acting in a timely manor can cause permanent damage to the affected structures. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle collision either recently or years in the past, call our
office at 281-991-3002 to schedule a consultation.