• Marta Ríos-León, Julian Taylor, Antonio Segura-Fragoso, and Andrés Barriga-Martín.
• Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos (SESCAM), Toledo 45071, Spain.
• Pain Med. 2024 May 2; 25 (5): 344351344-351.

ObjectiveAlthough the presence of neuropathic pain (NP) components has been reported in whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), no studies have analyzed the usefulness of NP screening questionnaires to detect NP components in WAD. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of 3 NP screening tools (Douleur Neuropathique 4 [DN4], self-administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs [S-LANSS], and painDETECT questionnaire [PDQ]) to detect the presence of NP components in acute WAD.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingHospital.SubjectsOf 188 eligible individuals, 50 people (68% women, mean age = 40.3 ± 12.5 years) with acute WAD (52% Grade III) were included.MethodsSpecialized physicians initially screened participants for the presence of NP components according to clinical practice and international recommendations. After physician assessment, blinded investigators used NP screening questionnaires (DN4, S-LANSS, and PDQ) to assess participants within 2 weeks of their accident. The diagnostic accuracy of these tools was analyzed and compared with the reference standard (physicians' assessments).ResultsThe 3 screening questionnaires showed excellent discriminant validity (area under the curve: ≥0.8), especially S-LANSS (area under the curve: 0.9; P < .001). DN4 demonstrated the highest sensitivity (87%), followed by S-LANSS (75%), while S-LANSS and PDQ showed the highest specificity (85% and 82%, respectively). These tools demonstrated a strong correlation with the reference standard (S-LANSS: rho = 0.7; PDQ: rho = 0.62; DN4: rho = 0.7; all, P < .001).ConclusionsThe DN4, S-LANSS, and PDQ show excellent discriminant validity to detect the presence of NP components in acute WAD, especially S-LANSS. Initial screening with these tools might improve management of WAD.© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

21 keywords...

hide…