Pain and Disability in the Jaw and Neck Region following Whiplash Trauma

Abstract

The relationship between whiplash trauma and chronic orofacial pain is unclear, especially with regard to the time elapsed from trauma to development of orofacial pain. The aim was to analyze prevalence of jaw pain and disability, as well as the relationship between pain and disability in the jaw and neck regions in the early nonchronic stage after whiplash trauma. In this case-control study, 70 individuals (40 women, 30 men, mean age 35.5 y) who visited an emergency department with neck pain following a car accident were examined within 3 wk of trauma (group 1) and compared with 70 individuals (42 women, 28 men, mean age 33.8 y), who declined to attend a clinical examination but agreed to fill in questionnaires (group 2). The 2 case groups were compared with a matched control group of 70 individuals (42 women, 28 men, mean age 37.6 y) without a history of neck trauma. All participants completed questionnaires regarding jaw pain and dysfunction, rating pain intensity in jaw and neck regions on the Numerical Rating Scale, the Neck Disability Index, and Jaw Disability Checklist. Compared with controls, individuals with a recent whiplash trauma reported more jaw pain and dysfunction. Furthermore, there was a moderate positive correlation between jaw and neck pain ratings for group 1 (r = 0.61, P < 0.0001) and group 2 (r = 0.59, P < 0.0001). In the logistic regression analysis, cases showed higher odds ratios (range, 6.1 to 40.8) for jaw and neck pain and disability compared with controls. Taken together, the results show that individuals with a recent whiplash trauma report more jaw pain and disability compared with controls without a history of neck trauma. Furthermore, the correlation between jaw and neck pain intensity implies that intensity of neck pain in the acute stage after whiplash trauma might be a possible risk factor also for development of chronic orofacial pain.

Effects on jaw function shortly after whiplash trauma

“…The impaired jaw function seen in the present study within 1 month after the whiplash trauma, shows an early involvement of the jaw sensory‐motor system. This is in line with reports of TMD pain early after whiplash trauma and underlines the importance to examine also the jaw system after a neck trauma.…”

“…Recently, the intensity of post‐traumatic neck pain was also shown to correlate with jaw pain within 1 month after trauma. It was therefore proposed that intensity of neck pain in the acute stage after whiplash trauma might be a possible risk factor also for development of chronic oro‐facial pain . As mentioned earlier, knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying the development of jaw pain and dysfunction after a whiplash trauma is limited.…”

Tissue Engineering for the Temporomandibular Joint

“…This correlation is likely due to the increased loading of the TMJ as evident by finite element analysis [22] . Trauma due to fracture or whiplash has also been evaluated as a contributing factor for TMD, and both of these injuries are correlated with an increased risk of TMD [21,23,24] .…”

Sex‐related differences in symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and structural changes in the lateral pterygoid muscle after whiplash injury

“…Whiplash injury commonly results from head and cervical vertebral hyperextension followed by hyperflexion . Such a condition is caused by a rear‐end or side‐impact collision, mainly in motor vehicle accidents .…”