A prospective cohort study of the outcome of acute whiplash injury in Greece.

OBJECTIVE

An earlier pilot study suggested that the late whiplash syndrome is uncommon in Greece. The purpose of the present study is to extend the evaluation to a larger sample, and include the prevalence of specific symptoms in the evaluation.

METHODS

In a prospective, cohort study, a total of 180 accident victims were consecutively recruited following Emergency ward presentation. A standard questionnaire asked about neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, limb numbness or pain, and dizziness. Accident victims were followed for 6 months.

RESULTS

In the initial 4 weeks after the accident, accident victims reported neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, arm numbness or pain, and dizziness, but at 4 weeks more than 90% had recovered from these, the remainder of the subjects having minor symptoms (not requiring therapy), and returning to their pre-accident state of health (which included minor symptoms). There were no cases of chronic disability.

CONCLUSION

In Greece, symptoms after an acute whiplash injury are self-limiting, brief, and do not appear to evolve into the so-called late whiplash syndrome.