title: Frequent jaw-face pain in chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders.
abstract: Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD) present with frequent pain in the neck, head and shoulder regions but the presence of frequent jaw-face pain is unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of jaw-face pain, pain in other regions, and general symptoms in chronic WAD patients. Fifty whiplash-patients and 50 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were examined by questionnaire for pain in the jaw-face, pain in other regions and other symptoms. In contrast to healthy, a majority of the WAD patients (88%) reported frequent pain in the jaw-face, in addition to frequent pain in the neck (100%), shoulders (94%), head (90%) and back (72%). The WAD patients also reported stiffness and numbness in the jaw-face region, and frequent general symptoms such as balance problems, stress and sleep disturbances. The result suggests that frequent pain in the jaw-face can be part of the spectrum of symptoms in chronic WAD.The finding of self-reported numbness in the jaw-face indicates disturbed trigeminal nerve function and merits further investigation. We conclude that assessment of WAD should include pain in the jaw-face region. A multidisciplinary rehabilitation program including dentists, preferably specialized in the area of orofacial pain, should be advocated after whiplash injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Sweden. b.henrikson@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Häggman-Henrikson
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grönqvist
authors.forename: Per-Olof
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Eriksson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult