Anatomical prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders following a road traffic collision in North-East England Jennifer Sewell1, Cheryl Dixon1, Rosie Morris2 and Samuel Stuart2 1OnMedical 2Institute
Ltd., North East Clinic, 52 Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne
of Neuroscience/Newcastle University Institute of Ageing, Newcastle University
http://www.onmedical.co.uk |
@On_Medical |
[email protected]
Introduction
Methods
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common following a road traffic collision
A retrospective review of physiotherapy records was conducted at OnMedical Ltd,
(RTC) (1) and result in significant costs at both a personal and societal level.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England. Data were collected from medico-legal patients
Physiotherapy is often prescribed to assess and manage MSDs, with current
between January 2014 and December 2015 (n=2106). Data collected included
guidelines and practice primarily focused on neck/upper back pain (i.e. whiplash)
diagnosed MSDs, RTC involvement, time from RTC to initial assessment, age, gender
following a RTC. However several recent studies from the USA and Canada have
and work status.
shown that pain is commonly reported in multiple anatomical regions following a
Separate MSDs diagnosed by physiotherapists were accumulated into anatomical
RTC (1-6).
areas; neck/upper back, lower back, upper limb, lower limb, chest/abdomen, and
Establishing the anatomical prevalence of MSDs following RTCs that present to
temporomandibular. The prevalence (number (n) and percentage (%) of diagnosed
physiotherapists in England may improve understanding and clinical practice.
MSDs for each anatomical region was calculated for all patients and for each subgroup
This study aimed to examine anatomical prevalence of physiotherapist diagnosed
(i.e. age, gender, involvement in RTC and work status). MSD prevalence (i.e. % of
MSDs following a RTC in England. We hypothesised that multiple MSDs in various
patients (or subgroup) with diagnosed MSDs in anatomical region) was calculated.
anatomical regions would be commonplace.
Ethical approval was gained from a Newcastle University Faculty of Medical Science
Results
Research Ethics Committee (REF: 01097/2015).
Neck/upper back and low back disorders were most common (Figure 1).
Of the 2106 patients; 46% presented with a single MSD, 45% presented with two
Neck/upper back disorders accounted for 54% of all MSDs seen, while lower back
MSDs, while 9% presented with three or more MSDs, and younger patients (
