• Christoph Dehner, Erich Hartwig, Philipp Strobel, Matthias Scheich, Florian Schneider, Martin Elbel, Lothar Kinzl, and Michael Kramer.
• Department for Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. christoph.dehner@uniklinik-ulm.de
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2006 Nov 1;87(11):1423-7.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of 2-day and 10-day immobilization of the cervical spine on pain, range of motion (ROM), and disability of patients with Quebec Task Force (QTF) grade II whiplash injuries.DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingUniversity hospital emergency department.ParticipantsSeventy patients with acute QTF grade II whiplash injuries.InterventionsAt the intake examination within 24 hours after the whiplash trauma, the patients were randomized to 2 therapy groups (2-d or 10-d immobilization with a soft cervical collar). All patients received pain drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and after 7 days, all patients started a standardized physiotherapy program 2 to 3 times a week.Main Outcome MeasuresPatients' pain and disability scores were assessed using visual analog scales and ROM was assessed using a goniometer. All parameters were measured within 24 hours after injury and after 2 and 6 months.ResultsAfter 2 months, the different periods of immobilization (2d or 10d) were associated with comparable improvements in pain symptoms (median, 4.60 vs 4.65), ROM (median, 100.0 degrees vs 117.5 degrees ), and disability score (median, 4.90 vs 5.15). No statistically significant differences could be identified between the 2 treatment groups. After 6 months, persistent pain was reported by 4 patients in each group (12.5%).ConclusionsIn patients with QTF grade II whiplash injuries, there is no short- or long-term difference between 2-day and 10-day immobilization with a cervical collar in terms of pain, ROM, or disability.

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