Whiplash is a neck injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement, often after road traffic collisions.
Symptoms often include neck pain, stiffness, headache, shoulder pain, dizziness, and difficulty turning the head, sometimes starting hours after the injury.
Imaging helps when the injury mechanism was significant, pain is severe, there is restricted movement, or doctors need to rule out fracture, dislocation, or other more serious injury.
Imaging may be used to rule out fracture, dislocation, or more serious spine injury when symptoms or exam findings justify it.
Many cases improve with time, pain relief, and gradual activity, though persistent symptoms may need further evaluation.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
