Citation

MacNab I. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1965; 9: 11-15.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1965, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Ever since the term "whiplash" was introduced, there has never been an orthopaedic subject more emotionally charged - so prone to change friends to acquaintances - so apt to evoke a grumbling division of an audience. The term "whiplash" has developed an evil connotation not only in the minds of the lawyers, but also in the minds of the general public - so much so that the patient may be further injured by just hearing the diagnosis. A whiplash injury is essentially an extension strain of the cervical spine produced by sudden acceleration, and I would like to urge strongly that we designate it as such, and refer to it as an acceleration-extension injury of the cervical spine. Everyone dealing with whiplash injuries is in agreement as to the type of symptoms to be expected, but here the agreement stops. Widely divergent views are held on the significance of these symptoms and these diverging viewpoints - rigidly held and hotly contested - are firmly based, on impressions only. In an endeavour to make these impressions more factually significant, the progress of 575 patients has been carefully followed.