Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor
Published on: July 24, 2012
Personalised treatments for acute whiplash injuries: A pilot study of nested N-of-1 trials in a multiple baseline
J Nikles1,2, R L Tate3, G Mitchell4,5
1Recover Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia.
Background:
Whiplash associated disorder (WAD), a common and disabling condition, incurs huge burden and costs to Australia. Yet, current treatments for whiplash are not very effective; improved outcomes are urgently needed. Clinical guidelines recommend simple analgesia (paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) but there have been no trials of guideline-recommended drugs. This study will investigate the effectiveness of evidence-based advice (EBA), paracetamol, naproxen, and both paracetamol and naproxen, in reducing daily neck pain and preventing chronic neck pain after whiplash injury.
Methods:
This study is a pilot series of multi-cycle, double-blinded, randomised N-of-1 trials, nested in a multiple baseline design. The design will comprise three baselines of 5, 8 or 11 days duration. Post enrolment, participants will be randomly assigned to one of the baselines. Fifteen participants with acute (<2 weeks) Grade II WAD, experiencing at least moderate pain (NRS: ≥ 5/10), and at risk of poor recovery will be recruited from hospitals in Queensland, Australia, and through local physiotherapists. Patients will receive EBA plus a randomised sequence of three cycles of ten day treatment triplets (paracetamol designated as a C phase, naproxen, designated as a D phase, and both paracetamol and naproxen, designated as an E phase).
Discussion:
We will test the effects of different treatments on the primary outcome of average neck pain intensity collected daily and at 4 and 7 months post-injury. Secondary outcomes, including disability, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and feasibility of study procedures, will also be evaluated. The results of this study will inform a larger trial aiming to strengthen the evidence on EBA and simple analgesics for WAD.
Trial Registration:
Clinical Trials Primary Registry: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.
Clinical Trial Registration Number:
ACTRN12618001291279.
Date Of Registration:
31/07/2018.
Primary Trial Sponsor:
The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia.
Funding:
The University of Queensland.
