Comparison of the Effect of Neck Collar, Act-as-Usual, and Active Mobilisation Early After a Whiplash Injury

Phase 3CompletedNCT00206271

The Back Research Center, Denmark450 enrolled

Overview

Background: Long-lasting pain and disability, known as chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD), may develop after forced flexion-extension trauma to the cervical spine. Mechanisms behind WAD are virtually unknown, as are the possible effects of early intervention. This trial was undertaken to compare the effect of three early intervention strategies for the prevention of developing chronic WAD following acute whiplash injury. Methods: 458 participants were randomised to one of 1) stiff neck collar, 2) advice to act-as-usual, or 3) an active mobilisation regime. Participants were followed for one year and treatment effects were compared in terms of lasting neck pain, headache, disability and sick-leave.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

450

Conditions

Whiplash Injury

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Been exposed to rear-end or frontal car collision * Experienced symptoms within 72 hours * 18 - 70 years Exclusion Criteria: * Could not be enrolled within 10 days of the collision * Fractures or dislocations of the cervical spine * Amnesia for the accident * Unconsciousness in relation to the accident * Injuries other than the whiplash injury * Average neck pain during the preceding 6 months exceeding 2 on a box scale 0-10, where 0= no pain and 10= worst possible pain * Significant pre-existing somatic or psychiatric disease * Alcohol or drug abuse * Does not read or understand Danish.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Neck pain intensity

Headache intensity

Neck disability

Sick leave during the 12 month after inclusion

Secondary Outcomes

Medication

Number of non-painful complaints

General health