Whiplash-Associated Disorders: Evidence-Based Practice

1. A Historical Context of Whiplash

Chapter 1 of this course will cover the current estimates of annual incidence, costs, anticipated recovery, and the wide spectrum of signs and symptoms associated with whiplash. We will also cover qualitative and quantitative metrics toward understanding the nature of the collision/event, peritraumatic experiences, symptoms since the collision, and prior medical history/comorbidities. Lastly, we will consider how whiplash injuries have been understood, including “railway spine” and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD).

2. Initial Clinical Assessment

Chapter 2 will provide an appropriate step-by-step guide to assessment, evaluation, and screening in acute WAD, with a focus on screening for red flags and risk factors for chronicity. Attention will be given to the NEXUS Criteria and the Canadian C-Spine Rule as well as quick screening questions to identify possible closed head injury and/or cranial nerve dysfunction. Lastly, we will present evidence to support clinically warranted imaging applications.

3. Establishing a Prognosis and Developing an Informed Management Plan

Chapter 3 will cover current evidence on prognosis in acute WAD and provide information on consistent factors that predict chronic problems as well as highlight those that don’t appear to be predictive. We will present current evidence and other recent systematic reviews/meta-analyses and propose a risk-based management plan of care.

4. Emerging Strategies

Chapter 4 will cover current and emerging evidence on prognosis in acute WAD to provide information on consistent factors that predict chronic problems. Specifically, we will cover and expand upon our stress-diathesis model and share quantitative crash reconstruction data using event data recorders (aka black box data).