Any attempt at describing the different types of whiplash associated disorders (WAD) should begin with an examination of the symptoms linked to any type of WAD. There are two basic symptoms, and one or both of them should be present in any such disorder. One symptom becomes obvious to any physician that examines the victim of a whip-lashing. That is the presence of either a fracture or a dislocation within the backbone.
The second and less obvious symptom pertains to the brain and nervous system. A victim with any type of WAD that has not caused a fracture or a dislocation should present with an objective, demonstrable and clinically relevant neurological sign. That sign could take the form of a cognitive dysfunction, a disturbance of the body’s sense of balance or a loss of hearing.
Among the 3 types of WADs, which of the basic symptoms can be found in Type I?
A patient with that type of whiplash associated disorder experiences spinal pain, along with stiffness or tenderness in the pained region of the body. The same patient shows no physical signs; that includes the absence of any fracture or dislocation. In addition, the fracture-free patient shows no evidence of neurological signs.
From among the basic symptoms, which can be found in Type II?
Again such patients complain of spinal pain. Other discomforts add to the discomfort created by the pain. Those other discomforts consist of a combination of stiffness and tenderness at specific points along the spinal cord. Such complaints get combined with a decreased range of motion in the spine and points along the backbone, where the spine is tender to the touch. Again there are no neurological signs and no signs of a fracture or dislocation.
Significant findings upon examination of patient with a Type III WAD
An observant examining physician should discover the following findings, all of which are typical of those exhibited by a soft tissue injury. The patient’s wound should show evidence of either a neurological sign or a fracture. The patient’s prolonged pain should hint strongly at the need for an MRI. An MRI could confirm the presence of a neurological problem.
Why an MRI and not an x-ray?
An x-ray reveals the presence of a fracture, but it fails to reveal other problems. For example, an x-ray cannot be used to detect a neurological problem. Such a problem has the ability to cause a cognitive dysfunction, a disturbance in the patient’s balance or a loss of hearing. Any one of those problems could develop after an accident victim has complained of prolonged pain, such as the type that has been tied to a whiplash associated disorder. Only an injury lawyer in Calgary can assist you to file a claim for compensation for the injuries sustained in the accident.