Presentatör: PhD student Alicia Böthun, Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, Umeå University
Background: Orofacial pain is common in the general population and has been reported in connection to whiplash trauma. However, studies on the relationship between orofacial pain and whiplash trauma, have mainly been cross-sectional or questionnaire studies.
Aim:
- To evaluate clinical signs in the jaw and neck regions after whiplash trauma
- To explore predictive factors for development and maintenance of jaw pain
Method: The baseline cohort consisted of 292 individuals;176 cases with a whiplash trauma
after a car accident and 116 controls. One month after trauma, the participants answered questionnaires and had a clinical examination. After two years 223 individuals (76%) returned. Exclusion criteria were neck fracture for cases and previous neck trauma for controls. Outcome measures: I) pain on palpation of jaw- and neck muscles, II) jaw pain.
Mixed models and logistic regression analyses was used.
Results: Cases and women were at higher risk for pain on palpation of jaw- (OR:7.7;CI:2.7–22.5 and OR:3.2; CI:1.3–7.6) and neck muscles (OR:12.7; CI:3.9–42.0 and OR:2.9;CI:1.2–7.2). No time effect was seen. Whiplash trauma did not increase odds for jaw pain over a two-year period (OR:1.97; CI:0.53-7.38). Physical symptoms (OR:8.56; CI:1.08-67.67) increased the odds for jaw pain after two years.
Conclusion: Development of jaw pain are probably not related to the trauma itself, but dependent on physical symptoms and a general mechanism behind widespread pain. The results highlight the importance of having a biopsychosocial perspective on pain development and early examinations and interventions could potentially prevent development of chronic pain.