The anatomy and pathophysiology of whiplash

Abstract

Whereas the symptoms of whiplash injury are frequently poorly understood or misrepresented as due to neurosis, a review of the literature reveals a considerable amount of biomechanical and experimental data that substantiate a diverse organic basis for these symptoms, including disorders commonly not considered or sought for in the investigation of whiplash. Moreover, formal studies fail to substantiate the notion of 'litigation neurosis' being the cause of prolonged symptoms. This review synthesises the anatomy and pathology of whiplash, and the pathophysiology of symptoms, into what can be construed as the organic basis for whiplash.