|
|
Neck pain was reported by 71(35%[95%CI 29-42])accident victims and 67(33%[ 27-40])controls.Headache was reported by 107(53%[46-60])accident victims and 100(50%[42-57])controls.Chronic neck pain and chronic headache(more than 7 days per month)were also reported in similar proportions(17[8.4%;5- 13]vs 14[6.9%;4-12]and 19[9.4%;6-15]vs12[5.9%;3-10])by the two groups.Of those reported chronic neck pain or daily headache after the accident, substantial proportions had had similar symptoms before the accident(7/17 for chronic neck pain;10/12 for daily headache).There was no significant difference found.No one in the study group had disabling or persistent symptoms as a result of the car accident.There was no relation between the impact severity and degree of pain.A family history of neck pain was the most important risk factor for current neck symptoms in logistic regression analyses.Our results suggest that chronic symptoms were not usually caused by the car accident.Expectation of disability,a family history,and attribution of preexisting symptoms to the trauma may be more important determinants for the evolution of the late whiplash syndrome. |
|