whiplash injury

injury /in·ju·ry/ (in´jer-e) wound or trauma; harm or hurt; usually applied to damage inflicted on the body by an external force.

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birth injury  impairment of body function or structure due to adverse influences to which the infant has been subjected at birth.

Goyrand's injury  pulled elbow.

straddle injury  injury to the distal urethra from falling astride a blunt object.

whiplash injury  a popular nonspecific term applied to injury to the spine and spinal cord due to sudden extension of the neck.

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whiplash injury

n.

A hyperextension-hyperflexion injury to the cervical spine caused by an abrupt jerking movement of the head, either in a backward or forward direction.

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whiplash injury

Etymology: ME, whippen + lasshe + L, ijuria

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Usage notes: informal.

an injury to the cervical vertebrae or their supporting ligaments and muscles marked by pain and stiffness. It usually results from sudden acceleration or deceleration, such as in a rear-end car collision that causes violent back-and-forth movement of the head and neck.

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whiplash injury

Emergency medicine Hyperextension injury to the neck, most often in passengers from vehicle A, struck from behind by a fast-moving vehicle B; WIs have been ↓↓↓ by the high-backed headrests now standard in automobiles; nonetheless, WIs affect from 120,000 to 1 million people/yr–US; although most become asymptomatic within a few wks, 20-40% develop the so-called late whiplash syndrome; cervical zygapophyseal joint pain is common in WI, and was once treated with corticosteroids; 90% of WIs are self-limited, requiring neither radiology nor treatment Management Per Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders. See Late whiplash syndrome, Quebec classification, Steering wheel syndrome.

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Patient discussion about whiplash injury.

Q. I have hurt my cervical spine and shoulder in a rear end car crash in July. Why does it still hurt?

A. Spine and back injuries are known to to be causing a lot of pain and discomfort and for a long period of time. You should try and do some mellow exercise and physiotherapy that might help you a lot. If the pain is unbarable, you should consult your doctor about using pain medications.