title: An unusual presentation of whiplash injury: long thoracic and spinal accessory nerve injury.
abstract: Whiplash injuries from motor vehicle accidents are very common. The usual presentation and course of this condition normally results in resolution of symptoms within a few weeks. Brachial plexus traction injuries without any bone or joint lesion of the cervical spine have been reported before. We report a case where a gentleman was involved in a rear end vehicle collision, sustained a whiplash injury and was later found to have a long thoracic nerve palsy and spinal accessory nerve palsy. Although isolated injuries of both nerves following a whiplash injury have been reported, combined injury of the two nerves following a whiplash injury is very uncommon and is being reported for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Road, Blackburn, BB2 3LR, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alvi
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D000055:Accessory Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020436:Accessory Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D061227:Accessory Nerve Injuries; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000293:injuries / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012540:Scapula / Q000473:pathology; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology