Clinical response of human subjects to rear-end automobile collisions

TITLE:	Clinical response of human subjects to rear-end automobile collisions [published erratum appears in Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998 Jun;79(6):723] [see comments]
AUTHORS:	Brault JR; Wheeler JB; Siegmund GP; Brault EJ
AUTHOR AFFILIATION:	Biomechanics Research & Consulting, Inc., El Segundo, CA 90245, USA.
SOURCE:	Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998 Jan;79(1):72-80
CITATION IDS:	PMID: 9440422 UI: 98103605
COMMENT:	Comment in: Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998 Jun;79(6):721; discussion 722-3 Comment in: Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998 Jun;79(6):721-3 Comment in: Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998 Aug;79(8):1024-5
ABSTRACT:	OBJECTIVE: Forty-two persons were exposed to controlled low-speed rear-end automobile collisions to assess the relation between both gender and impact severity and the presence, severity, and duration of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Individual measures were also assessed for their potential to predict the onset of WAD. DESIGN: Experimental study subjecting individuals to a speed change of 4 km/h and 8 km/h and utilizing pretest and posttest physical examinations (immediately after and 24 hours after impact) to quantify subjects' clinical response. RESULTS: Approximately 29% and 38% of the subjects exposed to the 4 km/h and 8 km/h speed changes, respectively, experienced WAD symptoms, with cervical symptoms and headaches predominating. Objective clinical deficits consistent with WAD were measured in both men and women subjects at both 4 km/h and 8 km/h. At 4 km/h, the duration of symptoms experienced by women was significantly longer when compared with that in men (p < .05). There were no significant differences in the presence and severity of WAD between men and women at 4 km/h and 8 km/h or in the duration of WAD at 8 km/h. There was also no significant difference in the presence, severity, and duration of WAD between 4 km/h and 8 km/h. No preimpact measures were predictive of WAD. CONCLUSION: The empirical findings in this study contribute to establishing a causal relationship between rear-end collisions and clinical signs and symptoms.
MAIN MESH HEADINGS:	Accidents, Traffic Injury Severity Score Sex Characteristics Whiplash Injuries/etiology

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