title: Does cervical kyphosis relate to symptoms following whiplash injury?
abstract: The mechanisms for developing long-lasting neck pain after whiplash injuries are still largely unrevealed. In the present study it was investigated whether a kyphotic deformity of the cervical spine, as opposed to a straight or a lordotic spine, was associated with the symptoms at baseline, and with the prognosis one year following a whiplash injury. MRI was performed in 171 subjects about 10 d after the accident, and 104 participated in the pain recording at 1-year follow-up. It was demonstrated that postures as seen on MRI can be reliably categorized and that a straight spine is the most frequent appearance of the cervical spine in supine MRI. In relation to symptoms it was seen that a kyphotic deformity was associated with reporting the highest intensities of headache at baseline, but not with an increased risk of long-lasting neck pain or headache. In conclusion, a kyphotic deformity is not significantly associated with chronic whiplash associated pain. Moreover, it is a clear clinical implication that pain should not be ascribed to a straight spine on MRI. We suggest that future trials on cervical posture focus upon the presence of kyphotic deformity rather than just on the absence of lordosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mats Peter
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Martin Skogheim
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Baann Liane
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bendix
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasch
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kongsted
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology