Citation

Martin JL, Pérez K, Marí-Dell'olmo M, Chiron M. Inj. Prev. 2008; 14(3): 185-190.

Affiliation

UMRESTTE, INRETS, Bron, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/ip.2007.016600

PMID

18523112

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate potential risk factors for whiplash injury as a function of crash configuration and driver's characteristics, and to provide information on over-reporting and under-reporting of whiplash. DESIGN: A case-control study of drivers involved in two-car injury collisions. Cases were drivers who had a diagnosis of whiplash injury, with or without another injury. Controls were drivers without diagnosed whiplash injury. SETTING: Hospital registries linked to police crash databases for Barcelona (Spain) and the "Departement du Rhone" (France). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relative risks of whiplash and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using a modified Poisson regression. RESULTS: Of the 8720 drivers involved in car-to-car crashes recorded in the French database, 12.2% were diagnosed with whiplash; the corresponding figure in the Spanish database was 12.0% of 7558 drivers. Female drivers and drivers in rear-impact collisions were most likely to have a whiplash diagnosis, although the absolute number of whiplash cases was greater in front and side impacts. Wearing a seatbelt, being in a heavier car, and age greater than 65 years were associated with a lower risk of whiplash injury. Drivers with other injuries were also more often diagnosed as having a whiplash injury, except the most severely injured. CONCLUSIONS: Devices aimed at reducing the occurrence of whiplash injuries, such as dynamic headrest systems, should be adapted to the characteristics of at-risk occupants, especially women, and should address the mechanics of front and side impacts in addition to rear impacts.

Language: en