Pharmacological treatment of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD)

Abstract

The term ‘whiplash’ has been used to describe a mechanism of injury and the various clinical manifestations as a consequence of the injury. Moreover, signs and symptoms have been designated the ‘whiplash syndrome’. In 1995, the Quebec Task Force (QTF) on Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD) adopted the following definition of whiplash: ‘whiplash is an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck. It may result from rear-end or side-impact motor vehicle collisions, but can also occur during diving or other mishaps. The impact may result in bony or soft-tissue injuries (whiplash-injury), which in turn may lead to a variety of clinical manifestations called Whiplash Associated Disorders’[1].