• T Rebbeck, D Sindhusake, I D Cameron, G Rubin, A-M Feyer, J Walsh, M Gold, and W N Schofield.
• Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. T.Rebbeck@fhs.usyd.edu.au
• Inj. Prev. 2006 Apr 1;12(2):93-8.

ObjectiveTo define health outcomes of whiplash associated disorders (WAD) at three months, six months, and two years after injury and to examine predictors of these outcomes.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingNew South Wales, Australia.SubjectsPeople with compensable motor crash injuries who reported whiplash as one of their injuries.InterventionsNone.Main Outcome MeasuresFunctional Rating Index (FRI), Short Form 36 (SF-36) at three months, six months, and two years after injury, ascertained by telephone interview.ResultsAt three months, 33.6% of the cohort was recovered (as defined by FRIConclusionWhiplash injury had a large effect on the health of this Australian cohort of whiplash sufferers, with only 50% of the cohort recovered at two years. Physical measures of health appear to improve over time, whereas mental measures of health did not. Despite this, this cohort is largely able to participate in activities and work at two years. Prevention of chronic disability may lie with concentration of resources to those who score highly on the FRI at baseline. In addition, chronic psychological ill health may be prevented by directing treatment to those with poor scores on sensitive measures of psychological ill health at baseline.

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