Whiplash is not a medical term, but it is a kind of shorthand commonly used to describe a variety of injuries to the neck often sustained in motor vehicle collisions. The terms generally refers to an injury caused by a read end vehicle impact, in which the driver or passenger of the car struck in the rear sustains a rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, similar to the cracking of a whip.
Recent studies using high speed cameras and sophisticated crash dummies have determined that, after the rear impact, the lower cervical vertebrae (lower bones in the neck) are forced into a position of hyperextension while the upper cervical vertebrae (upper bones in the neck) are in a hyperflexed position. This whip-sawing action causes damage to the soft tissue that holds the cervical vertebrae together (ligaments, facet capsules, muscles).
Treating physicians will commonly diagnose the injury as a sprain or strain, and the resulting symptoms can include neck pain, stiffness, limited range of motion, shoulder pain, dizziness, fatigue, jaw pain, weakness in the arms and headaches. Although generally not a life threatening injury, it can lead to a prolonged period of disability, depending on the speed of the collision.
Diagnoses of whiplash injuries involves the emergency room physician performing a physical examination and, in serious cases, ordering conventional x-rays or possibly an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging study). Treatment of whiplash can take many forms, including physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, range of motion exercises and medication. If the strain on the vertebrae has caused the herniation of a cervical disc, it may be necessary for the patient to undergo surgery to remove damaged disc fragments.
If a whiplash injury does not resolve within a month or two following the crash, the injured person is well advised to seek treatment from a specialist such as an orthopedist or physiatrist, as opposed to a primary care doctor.
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