Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Clinical Hospital Mostar; Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Aim To investigate anthropometric characteristics and traffic accident circumstances of subjects with isolated whiplash injury.
METHODS This cross sectional study involved 75 subjects from traffic accidents with isolated whiplash injury classified by Quebec Task Force (QTF). Anthropometric data were collected as well as claims about circumstances of traffic accidents.
RESULTS Distribution of 1st (28; 37.3%), 2nd (25; 33.3%) and 3rd (22; 29.3%) grade of whiplash injury was almost equal. Females had smaller anthropometric measurements than males; neck circumference was the most significant difference between males and females in the context of whiplash injury. The most frequent collision mechanism was impact to front (26; 34.7%) or to rear end (26; 34.7%) of a small passenger's car. Assertions of participants were that their car damage was significant (37; 49.2%) or total (24; 32%). A total of 38 (50.7%) participants claimed that they were not wearing safety belt and 52 (69.3%) did not find themselves responsible for accident.
CONCLUSION Driving habits of our participants facilitate incidence of whiplash injuries, especially in vulnerable groups such as women and elderly.