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. 2022 Dec;125(12):983-994.
doi: 10.1007/s00113-022-01248-y. Epub 2022 Nov 14.

[Distortion of the cervical spine : Pathophysiology, diagnostics, treatment and assessment]

[Article in German]
S Wagner  1 , N Renner  2 , J Krause  2 , M Perl  2
Affiliations

[Distortion of the cervical spine : Pathophysiology, diagnostics, treatment and assessment]

[Article in German]
S Wagner et al. Unfallchirurgie (Heidelb). 2022 Dec.

Abstract
in English, German

Distortion or whiplash trauma of the cervical spine is an injury pattern associated with motor vehicle collisions and typically occurs after rear impact collisions, but is not limited to this type of collision and accident. The vast majority of these injuries are low-grade injuries according to the Quebec Task Force (QTF) classification, whereby no objective morphological correlates can be determined in clinical and radiological examinations. The prognosis is predominantly favorable and the condition is self-limiting; however, care must be taken with respect to complex courses with chronic pain and the manifestation of neuropsychiatric complaints. Due to the mechanism of the accident this injury pattern is particularly frequent in accidents associated with third party liability insurance claims. The discrepancy between subjective complaints and the presence of objective findings is a particular challenge for the assessment by the medical expert.

Distorsionen oder Beschleunigungstraumata der HWS sind ein verkehrsassoziiertes Verletzungsmuster, das typischerweise bei Heckkollisionen auftritt, aber nicht auf diese Kollisions- und Unfallart begrenzt ist. Der größte Anteil dieser Verletzungen ist den niedrigen Schweregraden der Quebec-Task-Force(QTF)-Klassifikation zuzuordnen; bei diesen lässt sich in der klinischen und radiologischen Diagnostik kein morphologisch-objektivierbares Korrelat feststellen. Die Prognose ist überwiegend günstig und die Erkrankung selbstlimitierend, allerdings ist auf komplexe Verläufe mit chronischen Schmerzen und neuropsychiatrischen Beschwerdemanifestationen zu achten. Aufgrund des Unfallmechanismus tritt dieses Verletzungsbild besonders häufig im Rahmen von haftpflichtassoziierten Unfällen auf. Die Diskrepanz der subjektiv-beklagten Beschwerden und der vorliegenden objektiven Befunde stellt für den medizinischen Sachverständigen bei der Begutachtung eine besondere Herausforderung dar.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Classification; Diagnostic imaging; Expert opinion; Neck pain.

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References

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