A prospective cohort study of the outcome of acute whiplash injury in Greece

Objective An earlier pilot study suggested that the late whiplash syndrome is uncommon in Greece. The purpose of the present study is to extend the ev aluation to a larger sample, and include the prevalence of specific symptom s in the evaluation. Methods In a prospective, cohort study, a total of 180 accident victims wer e consecutively recruited following Emergency ward presentation. A standard questionnaire asked about neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, limb numbnes s or pain, and dizziness. Accident victims were followed for 6 months. Results In the initial 4 weeks after the accident, accident victims reporte d neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, arm numbness or pain, and dizziness, but at 4 weeks more than 90% had recovered from these, the remainder of the subjects having minor symptoms (not requiring therapy), and returning to t heir pr-e-accident state of health (which included minor symptoms). There w ere no cases of chronic disability. Conclusion In Greece, symptoms after an acute whiplash injury are self-limi ting, brief and do not appear to evolve into the so-called late whiplash sy ndrome.