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ArticlesA Summary of Medical Evidence of Disc Injuries During Whiplash By John R. Alexander & Richard H. Adler Published in the prestigious medical journal, Spine, by renowned researcher and author, Dr. Manohar M. Panjabi, is an article describing the results of a kinematic analysis of cervical intervertebral disc deformation during simulated whiplash using the whole cervical spine with muscle force replication model.1 The current study “demonstrated that excessive 150° fiber and disc shear strain occurred during simulated whiplash. These strains were greatest at the posterior region of the C5-6, and clinical date suggests that this is the most common location for disc herniation in whiplash patients.” The authors further state that “while disc injury may be the cause of acute pain and muscle spasm during the trauma, it could also lead to disc degeneration, facet osteoarthritis, and chronic neck pain.” 2 Of equal interest in this article are the extensive references by the authors to other articles and studies. For example:
Panjabi et al concluded that: “While acute injury to the cervical disc appears to cause immediate herniation in a minority of whiplash patients, a greater number of patients are vulnerable to accelerated disc degeneration over 5 to 10 years following the whiplash trauma. [footnote omitted] The mechanism of degeneration in these patients is unknown; however, animal studies have demonstrated that small tears in the anulus fibrosus can initiate that disc degeneration process. [footnote omitted] It seems likely that a similar mechanism may underlie disc degeneration in whiplash patients: that trauma may produce a small tear in the anulus that triggers the biochemical cascade leading to degeneration. [footnote omitted]” In a medical-legal and forensic context, this article reaffirms the importance
and need of healthcare practitioners and attorneys to better understand the
anatomy, physiology, and mechanism of traumatic injury. When traumatic injuries
can have long lasting implications for a person's overall health and welfare
it is important for the healthcare and legal professionals to have a strong
and rich knowledge base to best serve the patient/client. The healthcare
professional and attorney can then form the first line of defense between
the victim and debilitating physical injury and financial loss. The legal-medical
connection is natural and best serves the interests of the patient-turned-client
when both healthcare and legal communities work together to serve the public.
The law firm of Adler Giersch PS is committed to providing the highest quality
legal representation and legendary service to those injured by others and
will work closely with their clients' healthcare providers. |
