[The cervical spine whiplash trauma]

The whiplash injury is a classical injury of the upper spine following a car crash. It results from hyperextension and hyperflexion of the upper spine. In most cases no morphological changes can be verified. Thus the diagnosis has to be clinical, based on subjective symptoms. The prognosis is often good; the true problem are those few patients who develop chronic complaints. Therapy consists of initial immobilisation, analgetics and physiotherapy. Reasonable driving, safe cars and head rests should help to prevent whiplash injuries.