Whiplash-Associated Disorders Impairment Rating: Neck Disability Index Score According to Severity of MRI Findings of Ligaments and Membranes in the Upper Cervical Spine

Journal of Neurotrauma. 2005

The diagnosis of whiplash associated disorders has historically been heavily reliant upon our patients subjective complaints. This study from the Journal of Neurotrauma discovered the pain and disability seen in WAD patients can, at least in part, be attributed to structural damage of the ligaments in the upper cervical spine.

Injury to the alar and transverse ligaments are associated with increased pain, disability, and difficulties in daily living. The researchers in this paper propose a direct causal relationship between ligament injuries and NDI.

This paper further emphasizes that referring for the appropriate imaging, at the right time, is critical to properly manage and document the injuries people receive as a result of automobile accidents.

“Post-traumatic changes of the alar ligaments have been proposed to be the case of chronic pain in patients after whiplash."

“…lesions of the alar ligaments can be a common denominator in explaining the pain and functional disability in the neck after a WAD trauma.”

“These results indicate that symptoms and complaints among WAD patients can be linked with structural abnormalities in ligaments and membranes in the upper cervical spine, in particular the alar ligaments.”