This short paper reports a study which aimed to relate severity of neck strain to severity of impact in car crashes. It was conducted in Adelaide, Australia, between May and August 1992. Car occupants with neck strain were sought, who volunteered to join the project from co-operating physiotherapy and other general medical practices in Adelaide. Volunteers were interviewed by telephone, to determine that they met the study criteria and obtain their description of events in the crash. They were then interviewed and medically examined by a physiotherapist near the time of the crash and again six months after it. Each vehicle involved in the crash was also examined, and an attempt was made to reconstruct the accident. The survey included 14 males and 18 females, of whom 29 could be followed up. All subjects were wearing seat belts, and most were drivers. 22 of the 32 collisions were rear impacts, five were from the front, four were from the side, and one was of uncertain nature. There was an interesting distribution of impact severity. Most velocity differences were 10-20kph, but six were less than 10kph. 80% of the subjects had neck injuries, 80% had head injuries, 25% had upper back symptoms, and 30% had arm symptoms. It was concluded that neck injuries can occur in impacts of low severity and from any direction.
Abstract