Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Headache subsequent to whiplash

  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Methodology varies greatly in whiplash studies; therefore, results are not directly comparable. Headache seems to be present in 50% to more than 75% of cases in the acute stage, and in 20% to 30% of cases in the early chronic stage. Headache naturally occurs frequently (> 75% of the cases [eg, medico-legal cases]) in patients who consult headache specialists due to protracted symptoms. Malingering may explain some cases, and continuation/activation of prewhiplash headache may explain other cases. De novo headache also seems to occur. This headache may partly have cervicogenic headache characteristics: side-locked unilaterality and occipital onset. In one study, this type of headache was present in 8% at 6 weeks and 1% at 6 years. It was more rare than postwhiplash, unspecified headache. De novo postwhiplash headache may consist of cervicogenic headache and of noncervicogenic headache (probably in the acute phase).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Balla J, Iansek R: Headaches arising from disorders of the cervical spine. In Headache: Problems in Diagnosis and Management. Edited by Hopkins A. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1988:241–267.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Radanov BP, Sturzenegger M, Di Stefano G: Long-term outcome after whiplash injury. Medicine 1995, 74:281–297.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sjaastad O, Fredriksen TA, Båtnes J, et al.: Whiplash in individuals with known pre-accident, clinical neck status. J Headache Pain 2006, 7:9–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society: The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edn. Cephalalgia 2004, 24(Suppl 1):1–160.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pereira-Monteiro JM: Cefaleias. Estudo Epidemiologico e Clinico de uma Populacao Urbana [thesis]. Porto, Portugal; 1995.

  6. Sjaastad O, Fredriksen TA, Pfaffenrath V: Cervicogenic headache: diagnostic criteria. Headache 1990, 30:725–726.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Merskey H, Bogduk N: Classification of Chronic Pain. Seattle: IASP Press; 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Stovner LJ: The nosologic status of whiplash syndrome: a critical review based on a methodological approach. Spine 1996, 21:2735–2746.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sjaastad O, Fredriksen TA, Pfaffenrath V: Cervicogenic headache: diagnostic criteria. Headache 1998, 38:442–445.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Drottning M, Staff P, Sjaastad O: Cervicogenic headache (CEH) after whiplash injury. Cephalalgia 2002, 22:165–171.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Radanov BP, Sturzenegger M, Di Stefano G, et al.: Factors influencing recovery from headache after common whiplash. Brit Med J 1993, 307:652–655.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Mumenthaler M: Headache in chronic acceleration injury of the cervical spine. Schweiz Arch Neurol Psychiatr 2006, 157:163–167.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Keidel M, Diener HC: Der posttraumatische Kopfschmerz. Nervenarzt 1997, 68:769–777.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Keidel M, Eisentraut R, Baume B, et al.: Prospective analysis of acute headache following whiplash injury. Cephalalgia 1993, 13(Suppl 13):177.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Drottning M, Staff P, Sjaastad O: Cervicogenic headache (CEH) six years after whiplash injury. Funct Neurol 2007, 22:145–149.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Foletti G, Regli F: Prise en charge de patients avec ontorses cervicales simples. Presse Med 1995, 24:1617–1620.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Borchgrevink G, Lereim I: Symptomer hos pasienter med nakkeskade etter bilkollisjon: en retrospektiv undersøkelse. Tidsskr Nor Læeforen 1992, 112:884–886.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Schrader H, Obelieniene D, Bovim G, et al.: Natural evolution of late whiplash syndrome outside the medico-legal context. Lancet 1996, 347:1207–1211.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Obelieniene D: Epidemiology of whiplash associated disorders in Kaunas City, Lithuania [dissertation]. Kaunas Medical University; 1998.

  20. Pearce JMS: Whiplash injury: a reappraisal. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 1989, 52:652–655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sulg IA, Nyland HI: Do most chronic whiplash victims suffer from secondary gain neurosis? Tidsskr Nor Læeforen 1997, 117:4120–4122.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Stovner LJ, Obelieniene D: Whiplash headache is transitory worsening of a pre-existing primary headache. Cephalalgia 2008, 28(Suppl 1):28–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ovadia D, Steinberg EL, Nissan MN, Dekel S: Whiplash injury: a retrospective study on patients seeking compensation. Injury 2002, 33:569–573.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Vincent M: Is a de novo whiplash-associated pain most commonly cervicogenic headache? Cephalalgia 2008, 28(Suppl 1):32–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kudrow L: Muscle contraction headache. In Handbook of Clinical Neurology, vol 48. Edited by Vinken PJ, Bruyn G, Klawans HL, Rose FC. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1986:343–352.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sjaastad O, Wang H, Bakketeig LS: Neck pain and associated head pain: persistent neck complaints with subsequent, transient, posterior headache. Acta Neurol Scand 2006, 114:392–399.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sjaastad O, Bakketeig LS: Prevalence of cervicogenic headache: Vågå study of headache prevalence. Acta Neurol Scand 2008, 117:173–180.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bille B: Migraine in childhood and its prognosis. Cephalalgia 1981, 1:71–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, St. Olavs Hospital, Olav Kyrres Gate 17, 7006, Trondheim, Norway

    Ottar Sjaastad

Authors
  1. Ottar Sjaastad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Torbjørn A. Fredriksen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leiv S. Bakketeig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ottar Sjaastad.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sjaastad, O., Fredriksen, T.A. & Bakketeig, L.S. Headache subsequent to whiplash. Current Science Inc 13, 52–58 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-009-0011-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-009-0011-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation