No cash no whiplash?: Influence of the legal system on the incidence of whiplash injury

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

Represas, C (Author) Other; Vieira, DN (Author) Other; Teresa Magalhães (Author) FMUP; Dias, R (Author) Other; Frazao, S (Author) Other; Suarez Penaranda, JM (Author) Other; Rodriguez Calvo, MS (Author) Other; Concheiro, L (Author) Other; Munoz, JI (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine

Vol. 15 No. 6

Pages: 353-355

ISSN: 1752-928X

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

Scopus - 18 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Legal medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-007-NFW

DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2007.12.016

Abstract (EN): Whiplash injury has been a continuous source of controversy due to its association with litigation. We studied the incidence of whiplash associated disorder (WAD) in two similar socioeconomic areas and carried out a retrospective study based on the hypothesis that the Spanish law 30/1995 might have an affect on the incidence and duration of cervical symptoms and the persistence of impairment. More than 10,000 patients injured in traffic accidents were studied over a period three years. Of these, only patients with an initial diagnosis of whiplash injury were included in the study. Patients with other injuries were excluded. The patients were classified into two groups: Galicia-Spain and North-Central Portugal (depending on where the accident took place and the medico-legal evaluation procedure in force). Statistical analysis was made using SPSS 13.0 and Statistix 8.0. We found a statistically significant difference between Spain and Portugal in the incidence of WAD and in the duration of symptoms. The incongruities caused by the compulsory application of Spanish law arise from the fact that evaluation on a points scale of impairment does not always reflect the functional state of the injured person. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd and FFLM.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific