Citation

Elbel M, Krämer M, Huber-Lang MS, Hartwig E, Dehner C. Patient Saf. Surg. 2009; 3(1): 5.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1754-9493-3-5

PMID

19267940

PMCID

PMC2657117

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The predictive value of trauma impact for the severity of whiplash injuries has mainly been investigated in sled- and crash-test studies. However, very little data exist for real-life accidents. Therefore, the predictive value of the trauma impact as assessed by the change in velocity of the car due to the collision (delta-V) for the resulting cervical spine injuries were investigated in 57 cases after real-life car accidents. METHODS: delta-V was determined for every car and clinical findings related to the cervical spine were assessed and classified according to the Quebec Task Force. RESULTS: In our study, 32 (56%) subjects did not complain about symptoms and were therefore classified as QTF grade 0; 25 (44%) patients complained of neck pain: 8 (14%) were classified as QTF grade I, 6 (10%) as QTF grade II, and 11 (19%) as QTF grade IV. Only a slight correlation (r=0.55) was found between the reported pain and delta-V. No significant correlation (r=0.45) was found between delta-V and the QTF grade for any of the collision types. There was no delta-V threshold associated with acceptable sensitivity and specificity for the prognosis of a cervical spine injury. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that delta-V is not a conclusive predictor for cervical spine injury in real-life motor vehicle accidents. This is of importance for surgeons involved in medicolegal expertise jobs as well as patients who suffer from whiplash-associated disorders (WADs) after motor vehicle accidents. Trial registration: The study complied with applicable German law and with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the institutional ethics commission.

Language: en