Neck strain in car occupants: injury status after 6 months and crash-related factors.
In this study, 29 individuals who sustained a neck strain as a result of a car crash were drawn from a group of physiotherapy and general practices and were followed up after 6 months. The aim was to examine relationships between the state of the neck injury at the time of follow up and crash-related factors, notably crash severity and occupant awareness. Crash severity was assessed by measurement of damage to the involved vehicles, while 6-month injury status was established through physical examinations and interviews. No statistically significant associations between crash severity and 6-month injury status were found, but subjects who were unaware of the impending collision had a greatly increased likelihood of experiencing persisting symptoms of and/or signs of neck strain, compared with those who were aware (odds ratio = 15.0; 95 per cent confidence limits: 1.8, 178). While the role of crash severity in the production and duration of neck strains remains unclear, awareness appears to have a strong protective influence and may prove to be a useful prognostic indicator in clinical settings.
NHMRC Road Accident Research Unit, University of Adelaide, Australia.
G A
GA
Ryan
G W
GW
Taylor
V M
VM
Moore
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J
Dolinis
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000293:injuries*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy