title: Comparison of the relative benefits of 2 versus 10 days of soft collar cervical immobilization after acute whiplash injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of 2-day and 10-day immobilization of the cervical spine on pain, range of motion (ROM), and disability of patients with Quebec Task Force (QTF) grade II whiplash injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients with acute QTF grade II whiplash injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the intake examination within 24 hours after the whiplash trauma, the patients were randomized to 2 therapy groups (2-d or 10-d immobilization with a soft cervical collar). All patients received pain drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and after 7 days, all patients started a standardized physiotherapy program 2 to 3 times a week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients' pain and disability scores were assessed using visual analog scales and ROM was assessed using a goniometer. All parameters were measured within 24 hours after injury and after 2 and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 2 months, the different periods of immobilization (2d or 10d) were associated with comparable improvements in pain symptoms (median, 4.60 vs 4.65), ROM (median, 100.0 degrees vs 117.5 degrees ), and disability score (median, 4.90 vs 5.15). No statistically significant differences could be identified between the 2 treatment groups. After 6 months, persistent pain was reported by 4 patients in each group (12.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with QTF grade II whiplash injuries, there is no short- or long-term difference between 2-day and 10-day immobilization with a cervical collar in terms of pain, ROM, or disability.
authors.affiliation: Department for Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. christoph.dehner@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dehner
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strobel
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheich
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elbel
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kinzl
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013997:Time Factors; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal