Intractable neck pain.
A retrospective survey of 1,661 patients seen over a 10-year period at a pain clinic yielded 55 patients with intractable neck pain as the presenting complaint. In 89% there was an industrial or motor vehicle accident as the precipitating event, 78% were involved in legal proceedings relating to the accident, and in 87% the pain radiated to neighboring structures. Diagnostically, 36% had no physical signs, and cervical radiographs were normal for 46%. There was a high incidence of previous psychiatric treatment (53%) and major intrafamily problems (60%). Treatment mainly by psychotherapy or tricyclic antidepressants resulted in some benefit for 56% of patients. Legal compensation and change in occupation were not major factors influencing the outcome of treatment.
Abbott
P
P
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
Rounsefell
B
B
Fraser
R
R
Goss
A
A
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed