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The “Journal of Neurotrauma”, April 22, 2005,
talked about whiplash associated disorders (WAD) impairment rating
and neck disability scoring based upon the severity of MRI findings of
membrane and ligaments in the upper cervical spine.
The aim of this study was to explore whether reported pain and
functional disability in whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) patients is
associated with lesions to specific soft tissue structures in the upper
cervical spine, as assessed by MRI.
Pre-selected structures for MRI assessment included the
alar ligaments, the transverse ligament, the tectorial and the posterior
atlanto-occipital membranes. These
ligaments are taken from the Latin prefix “alar,” which means wings and
are in the top two segments of the cervical spine.
There were 92 whiplash test patients and 30 control subjects.
The WAD patients reported significantly more pain and disabilities.
Upon examination, the WAD patients also had MRI lesions to the alar
ligaments and showed the most consistent form of pain and disability.
The neck disability index (NDI) stated that the
results from this study indicate that symptoms and complaints among WAD
patients can be limited with structural abnormalities in ligaments and
membranes of the upper cervical spine.
This grading of ligaments was done using the increased signal of an
MRI. Approximately 2 to 1 crash
victims of whiplash were victimized more by the trauma of the injury.
The conclusion of these studies is that pain most often produced
after whiplash is the result of ligament damage, mainly alar and transverse
ligaments. The membrane
surrounding the brain stem is not believed to be the source of most pain.
Overall, females have shown to have an increased injury rate of 30%
compared to males at the same impact force.
Females have also shown to have more multiple lesions.
As a chiropractor, these study results are obviously
very significant in treatment of ligamentous weakness versus membrane
swelling when recognizing the source of pain.
The bottom line goal is healing through chiropractic adjustments,
associated therapies, and rehabilitation to establish the importance and
integrity of vertebral mobility. Ligaments
once traumatized and weak do not respond well to most care; however, there
will be absolutely no response if treatment is never applied. A permanency will then occur and will be the result of no
treatment.
What is most irritating are the lame opinions of
insurance companies when considering treatment for a patient because I truly
feel their goal is not the consideration of the patient, merely the bottom
line of a profit. This may seem
far-reaching, but it is a fact of life.
The sooner care is rendered after an onset; the better the rate of
recovery will be.
Chiropractically
Yours,
Robert
R. Zinser, D.C., C.C.S.P., P.C.
www.zinserchiropractic.com
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