“Whiplash” is an injury that affects the neck. But what exactly?
It refers to a serious injury in the collective imagination but we do not always know to which injury the term “whiplash” refers precisely.
Cervical trauma
Whiplash or “whiplash” in English is a popular expression which designates a violent cervical trauma, since it is through the neck that this animal is traditionally killed. It translates a sudden acceleration of the head forward then backward leading to hyperflexion then hyperextension of the cervical spineMost often, whiplash is the consequence of a car accident or sudden stopping of the vehicle. In this case, the affected person may be the victim of a cervical sprain, or even a fracture. Whiplash due to a direct cause is generally more dangerous since the spine can be affected.
There Pain is most often the sign that prompts the patient to consult. It can be located locally on one level of the spine, or spread more diffusely. Neck pain is accompanied by a limitation of movements of the cervical spine and can cause more or less significant functional discomfort.
Among the symptoms of whiplash:
- neck pain
- neck stiffness
- difficulty moving the head
- headaches
- pain in the arms and shoulders
Victims may also complain of dizziness and tingling in the hands or arms.