Abstract
Introduction. A population of 52 patients suffering from whiplash resulting from one or more motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) were studied. Data between patient's trauma history, symptoms, age and MVA profile were analyzed and correlated.
Methods. The authors reviewed and studied the clinical files of 93 patients treated for MVA-related symptoms at the NeuroKinetics™ Traumatology and Concussion Clinic. Of these 93 patients, 52 were identified as suffering from whiplash-related disorders. Data concerning these 52 WAD patients were logged into an Excel® spread sheet, and statistics concerning epidemiology of the patients were tabulated. The data were plotted and reviewed together, from which several correlations were found.
Results. For these 52 patients, the number of symptoms increased proportionately to the number of traumas experienced. It was also found that the number of MVAs increased proportionate to the number of traumas experienced by a given patient, possibly a feature of increased accident proneness in patients with increased numbers of traumas. The number of symptoms experienced did increase with patients who suffered higher severity MVAs; however this increase was observed to be less when compared with the correlation to the number of traumas. Age was shown not to have any correlation with increase in number of symptoms, symptom severity, or number of traumas (including MVAs) to be considered a factor contributing to WAD. The most common traumas seen in these patients were head traumas (87%), followed by sports-related trau mas (54%), emotional traumas (50%), and birth traumas (17%).
Conclusions. These results indicate that a patient's history of trauma may be a factor worth considering when evaluating WAD sym ptomatology and intensity patterns.