Comment on Whiplash pathology: does knowledge change clinical practice? by Chris Worsfold.

Thanks very much Claire. Good question. So much of the research is neck-centric.

Regarding the occult fractures / bone contusion: the Anderson et al study is compelling in that, yes these findings are more prevalent in whiplash BUT they remain profoundly rare, all the same. Having said that, I don’t see any rationale for there being more or less of these findings in the thoracic region compared to the cervical spine.

It’s worth noting that in the Anderson et al study we don’t know the proportion of Grade I whiplash (‘no objective signs’) subjects in their sample so I wonder if we will actually be seeing slightly more of these occult pathologies in our day-to-day practice than suggested by this paper because most whiplash patients have some objective findings.

Thanks for your comments,

Chris

Recent Comments by Chris Worsfold