Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32189119›Full record

ArticleWiener klinische Wochenschrift2020

Can measuring passive neck muscle stiffness in whiplash injury patients help detect false whiplash claims?

Jure Aljinović, Igor Barišić, Ana Poljičanin, Sandra Kuzmičić, Katarina Vukojević, Dijana Gugić Bokun, Tonko Vlak

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In one paragraph

Article in Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Jure AljinovićInstitute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine with Rheumatology, University Hospital of Split, Šoltanska 1, 21000, Split, Croatia. jure.aljinovic@mefst.hr.
Igor BarišićClinical Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Split, Split, Croatia.
Ana PoljičaninInstitute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine with Rheumatology, University Hospital of Split, Šoltanska 1, 21000, Split, Croatia.
Sandra KuzmičićInstitute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine with Rheumatology, University Hospital of Split, Šoltanska 1, 21000, Split, Croatia.
Katarina VukojevićDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
Dijana Gugić BokunClinical Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, University Hospital of Split, Split, Croatia.
Tonko VlakInstitute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine with Rheumatology, University Hospital of Split, Šoltanska 1, 21000, Split, Croatia.
University of Split · HR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhiplash injury of the cervical spine is the most common injury after a car accident and in 25% of patients it progresses into chronic neck pain. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the difference in neck muscle stiffness using shear wave ultrasound elastography between subjects who suffered an uncomplicated whiplash injury and a control group. Possible recognition of patients who insist on physical therapy in order to support their false whiplash injury claims.

methodsThis study included 75 whiplash injury patients and 75 control subjects. Trapezius, splenius capitis and sternocleidomastoid muscles were examined by ultrasound shear wave elastography.

resultsIncreased muscle stiffness was noticed in trapezius muscle bilaterally in the whiplash group when compared to the control group (p < 0.001; right 57.47 ± 13.82 kPa vs. 87.84 ± 23.23 kPa; left 54.4 ± 12.68 kPa vs. 87.21 ± 26.47 kPa). Muscle stiffness in splenius capitis and sternocleidomastoid muscles was not suitable for analysis because of asymmetrical data distribution. Patients with less than 76 kPa of muscle stiffness in trapezius muscle are unlikely to belong in whiplash injury group (sensitivity 90% for right and 97% for left trapezius muscle, specificity 72% and 73%, respectively).

conclusionPatients measuring below 76 kPa of muscle stiffness in the trapezius muscle might have no whiplash injury. Further follow-up of the patients measuring higher than cut-off value might be beneficial for detecting patients with prolonged neck muscle spasm that can lead to chronic cervical pain syndrome.

Indexed as

Whiplash InjuriesChronic PainElasticity Imaging TechniquesHumansNeck MusclesNeck PainElastographyNeck painShear waveTrapeziusUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID32189119
OpenAlexW3010715805

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.