Fluoroscopically Guided Therapeutic Cervical Zygapophyseal (Facet) Joint Injections for Whiplash Injuries
Bilal F Shanti*, Ihsan F Shanti, Zaynab IF Shanti and Ayad Agha
Shanti Auto Injury and Accident, Scottsdale AZ, USA
*Corresponding Author: Bilal F Shanti, Shanti Auto Injury and Accident, Scottsdale AZ, USA.
Received:
May 01, 2024; Published: June 14, 2024
Abstract
Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) occur when shifting of energy is transferred to the neck region during a crash or collision, from acceleration-deceleration mechanism. WAD are thus characterized by excessive extension-flexion movements, and/or excessive side bending of the head and neck, beyond the normal and regular range of motion.
The outcome of trauma associated with WAD can result in acute and chronic pain syndromes, functionality limitations and restrictions, psychological and psychosocial ramifications, financial crisis, unemployment, and certain cases, prolonged disability. This causes a significant economic burden on any nation.
In addition to motor vehicle collisions that constitute most causes of WAD, other injuries include contact sports injuries, falls, physical and domestic abuse, and other types of traumas.
Clinical presentations are variable. In general, these includes neck pain (the main feature), decreased range of motion of cervical spine, spasms and tightness, headaches, arm(s) numbness and/or pain, and many other symptoms depending on the extent of the insult, ranging range from fractures, joint dislocations, ligament tears, swelling and bruising, and even traumatic brain injuries/post-concussional syndrome, with its subsequent clinical sequalae.
This review manuscript will enumerate the latest in WAD with special emphasis on cervical facet joint injections. We recognize there are other available treatment options for whiplash injuries, but this article will only review the role of facet joint injections in whiplash injuries. Hence, we will not mention those options since it is not our goal. We base our review on relevant databases such as PubMed, Ovid-Medline, Embase, Web of Science, NIH website, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, pulled in early 2024. No Institutional Review Board permission was obtained since this manuscript does not directly involve animals or humans.
Keywords: Whiplash; Whiplash-Associated Disorder; Whiplash Injuries; Neck Pain; Chronic Neck Pain; Motor Vehicle Collision; Chronic Pain Syndrome; Chronic Pain; Neck Trauma
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