Geen indicatie voor MRI-onderzoek van patiënten met acuut whiplashtrauma; een prospectief onderzoek bij 100 patiënten

To evaluate the findings from magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cervical spine and brain in patients after acute whiplash injury.

Design

Prospective.

Setting

Hospital De Wever and Gregorius, Heerlen, the Netherlands.

Methods

Within 3 weeks (mean: 10 days) of trauma, 100 consecutive patients underwent MR imaging for evaluation of the cervical spine and the brain. In addition, plain radiographs were obtained, including functional images of the cervical spine.

Results

One patient had an abnormality on the MR image that was related to trauma (prevertebral oedema). In 17 patients, functional images showed a kyphotic angle, but no evidence of soft-tissue injury was seen on the MR images.

Conclusion

There is no role for MR imaging in the routine work-up of patients with acute whiplash injury. A kyphotic angle seen on functional images of the cervical spine should not automatically be assumed to indicate soft tissue injury; it most likely is attributable to a compensating mechanism of hypermobility at a level of the spine above that at which hypomobility occurs, which is probably the result of muscle spasm.