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More than 3 million Americans suffer whiplash each year, which now
accounts for 45% of chronic neck pain in adults. New car design prevents fatal
crashes with a reduction in injuries occurring at higher speeds. Unfortunately, the increased the stiffness of
cars in lower velocity crashes increased whiplash injuries.
Approximately 3 million people in the United States suffer from
whiplash annually, resulting in an estimated $43 billion in comprehensive
costs. Studies report rises in whiplash injuries from a low of 7.2% in 1982 to
30% by 1997. As the incidence of whiplash has increased, so have the rates of
disability: whiplash may account for as much as 45% of chronic neck pain in
adults. A significant portion of people
who suffer from whiplash injuries seek some form of compensation.
Seat belt and shoulder harness use provides life-saving protection
in most crashes, but increase the risk for whiplash injury:
The rise in seatbelt use in the US since the introduction of
primary- and secondary-use laws has contributed to the increased incidence of
whiplash injury. Increased stiffness of seat backs also has been a contributing
factor. The relative risk of being injured in a crash was related to model
year, the risk of being injured in a 1990s era model was 2.7 times that of
being injured in a 1980s model.
A significant factor in the increase in whiplash claims has been
the automotive industry’s attempt to manage the increasing crash energy
recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) New
Car Assessment Program (NCAP) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s
(IIHS) 40% offset deformable barrier crash tests. To perform well on these crash tests,
manufacturers have increased the stiffness of passenger cars by using stronger
alloys of steel and aluminum and made other structural modifications, vehicle
stiffness has increased by approximately 34%. While this has led to a reduction
in injuries occurring at higher speeds (30-40 mph), it has increased the
stiffness of cars in lower velocity crashes translating to greater occupant
force transmission. Airbags do not have
any effect on whiplash injuries caused by rear impact collisions; they only
deploy in frontal- or side-impact (or roll-over) collisions. Call to Schedule:
(314) 481-5000
On measuring a whiplash injury: ROM is an important prognostic factor and that it correlates well with ongoing impairment:
Reduced ROM allowed differentiation between non-symptomatic and
long-term whiplash victims, with a sensitivity of 86.2% and a specificity of
95.3%. After whiplash injury, cervical
ROM had predictive value for outcome and correlates with long-term disability.
Malingering: The method recommended by the AMA Guides for detecting malingering is significantly less sensitive than the method of applying a coefficient of variation (CV) statistics
Medicolegal relevance: The 1993 Supreme Court ruling (Daubert v Merrell Dow) defined the landscape of medicolegal testimony of experts, making trial judges the gatekeepers of scientific expert testimony on the basis on 4 criteria:
Whether the theory or technique can be, and has been, tested.
Whether the theory or technique has been subjected to peer review.
The known or potential rate of error of the method used.
The degree of the methods or conclusion’s acceptance within the
relevant scientific community.
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DC. Seat properties affecting neck
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J, Rockwell T, Beuse N, Summers L, Summers S, Park B. Evaluation of stiffness
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AC, Freeman MD. Auto insurers and their new role in whiplash prevention–new
rules, new risks, new tests. Forum. 2005;35(3):9-13.
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AC, Philippens MM. The RID2 biofidelic rear impact dummy: a pilot study using
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P, Gupta A, Lakshminarayana A, et al. Seat optimization considering reduction
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AA, Johnson RM, Panjabi MM, Southwick WO. Biomechanical analysis of clinical
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H, Bach FW, Jensen TS. Handicap after acute whiplash injury: a 1-year
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H, Qerama E, Kongsted A, Bach FW, Bendix T, Jensen TS. Deep muscle pain, tender
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CP, Burkett B, Neller A, Yelland M. Can long-term impairment in general
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B, Clausen B, Ris I, et al. Increased neck muscle activity and impaired balance
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Daubert
v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 509 U.S. 579 (1993).
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Call to Schedule:
(314) 481-5000 NSAIDS or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are common
medications that reduce inflammation and relieve fever and pain by blocking
enzymes and proteins made by the body. They are usually available over the
counter without a prescription. Given its relatively safe profile, NSAIDS have
enjoyed widespread availability and consumer use. However, this does not mean
NSAIDS are harmless.
In a study conducted by the Copenhagen
University Hospital Gentofte, researchers have found a strong link between
an increased risk of cardiac arrest and NSAID use. The researchers analyzed
over 28,000 patients in Denmark who suffered a cardiac arrest within a 10 year
period. The results were shocking. The patients who suffered an episode of a
cardiac arrest showed a history of NSAID uses 30 days prior to the episode.
Furthermore, the study broke down the kind of NSAID present before the episode
and tallied the corresponding risk. In the study, Ibuprofen was linked to a 30
percent increase in cardiac arrest risk, while diclofenac was linked to a
whopping 50 percent rise in the risk.
The researcher believe that there is a place for NSAIDS in the treatment of pain and inflammation but given the insidious risk involve in its use, patients should be extra cautious when considering taking it in the long run.
Common painkillers linked to greater risk of cardiac
arrest