Injuries of the Cervical Spine Caused by Road Accidents in Italy

Abstract

Objectives: To ascertain the epidemiology of whiplash injuries in Italy.

Methods: The authors carried out a multi-hospital emergency department survey from throughout Italy of cervical spine injuries caused by road accidents. Follow-up survey was conducted at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months intervals since examination at the emergency department. Inclusion criteria was based on neck complaints upon admission to the emergency department, with or without other multiple or bony injuries. Insurance company data was compared.

Results: There was a total 2,947 trauma cases questioned, 226 patients were admitted to hospital with severe or multiple injuries which included those of the cervical spine, 487 were not admitted to hospital but all these also had suffered multiple injuries. In the six months follow up of 58 patients, most showed various subjective complaints which recovered.

Conclusion: Among hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients suffering from moderate to severe multiple injuries from road traffic accidents, cervical complaints were the most common.

KEYWORDS:

• Whiplash
• epidemiology
• emergency