Study protocol

Functional health status in subjects after a motor vehicle accident, with emphasis on whiplash associated disorders: design of a descriptive, prospective inception cohort study

Maarten A Schmitt^1,6* , Nico LU van Meeteren^2* , Anton de Wijer^4* , Paul JM Helders^3* and Yolanda van der Graaf^5*

¹  SOMT, Institute for Master Education in Manual Therapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands

²  Faculty of Medicine, Utrecht University, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands

³  Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy and Clinical Exercise Physiology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Utrecht, the Netherlands

⁴  Department of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics and Special Dental Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands

⁵  Department of Epidemiology and Health Care, Division Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care Research University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands

⁶  Faculty of Medicine and University Medical Center Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2008, 9:168doi:10.1186/1471-2474-9-168

Published:	19 December 2008

Abstract

Background

The clinical consequences of whiplash injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident (MVA) are poorly understood. Thereby, there is general lack of research on the development of disability in patients with acute and chronic Whiplash Associated Disorders.

Methods/Design

The objective is to describe the design of an inception cohort study with a 1-year follow-up to determine risk factors for the development of symptoms after a low-impact motor vehicle accident, the prognosis of chronic disability, and costs. Victims of a low-impact motor vehicle accident will be eligible for participation. Participants with a Neck Disability Index (NDI) score of 7 or more will be classified as experiencing post-traumatic neck pain and will enter the experimental group. Participants without complaints (a NDI score less than 7) will enter the reference group. The cohort will be followed up by means of postal questionnaires and physical examinations at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Recovery from whiplash-associated disorders will be measured in terms of perceived functional health, and employment status (return to work). Life tables will be generated to determine the 1-year prognosis of whiplash-associated disorders, and risk factors and prognostic factors will be assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Discussion

Little is known about the development of symptoms and chronic disability after a whiplash injury. In the clinical setting, it is important to identify those people who are at risk of developing chronic symptoms.

This inception prospective cohort study will provide insight in the influence of risk factors, of the development of functional health problems, and costs in people with whiplash-associated disorders.