Neck injury and fibromyalgia-- are they really associated?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether whiplash injury may be a trigger for the onset of fibromyalgia (FM).


METHODS
One hundred fifty-three patients presenting to the emergency room with the diagnosis of whiplash injury were examined. The control group included 53 patients hospitalized with fractures of the limbs, spine, and ribs due to road accident. The study and control groups were interviewed shortly after presenting and then followed prospectively. Patients complaining of musculoskeletal symptoms during followup were examined and a count of 18 tender points was conducted. FM was diagnosed if the patient fulfilled currently accepted 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria.


RESULTS
The mean followup period for the study and control groups was 14.5 months (range 12-18) and 9 months (range 6-14), respectively. There were no differences between the groups with regard to age, sex, marital, education, or employment status. During the followup period only one patient in the study group and no patients in the control group developed signs and symptoms of FM. Three patients in the study group (2%) and 15 patients in the control group (16%) filed insurance claims; none was associated with FM.


CONCLUSIONS
Whiplash injury and road accident trauma were not associated with an increased rate of FM after more than 14.5 months of followup.
Tishler
Moshe
M
Department of Medicine, Asaf Harofe Medical Center, Zrifin 70300, Israel. tishler@asaf.health.gov.il
Levy
Ofer
O
Maslakov
Ilya
I
Bar-Chaim
Shmuel
S
Amit-Vazina
Mirit
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology