During the period of 25 years (1970-1994) N=694 patients were diagnosed with sprain of the neck due to a car accident at the Emergency Room of the University Hospital Groningen. A gradually, steady increase in the number of patients was observed from 10 in 1970 to 122 in 1994. The highest prevalences were found for respectively the age groups 25-29 years old (28,3 per 100.000) and 40-44 years old (27,9 per 100.000). Although the number of male and female victims fluctuated per age group, across the life span there was neither male nor female predominance observed. The majority of the victims (92%) were treated as outpatients. Parellel to the increase in sprain of the neck, a rise in the number of cars per inhabituants and average driven kilometers were found during this period. No sharp increase in the number of patients was revealed after seatbelt legislation in 1975. The impact of degree of participation in car driving and an increase in exposuretime to car accidents, as well as the media effect on the raise in the frequency of sprain of the neck diagnoses have been discussed.
Abstract