Neuroinflammation as a Predictor of Chronicity in Whiplash

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

Whiplash describes an injury to the neck caused by a rapid movement of the head. It often occurs during a motor vehicle collision, causing considerable pain and distress. Most patients are diagnosed with whiplash associated disorder grade-2 (WAD2). Half of these patients develop chronic pain. Current treatments for patients are ineffective. It is difficult to predict which patients will develop chronic pain, and therefore how to manage these patients. The characteristics of pain felt by many patients with WAD2 suggests that symptoms are caused by an injury to the nerves in the neck and arm. However, on clinical examination there is no indication that these nerves are significantly injured. Work from the investigators' laboratory suggests that nerves may be inflamed. In this study, the contribution of nerve inflammation to symptoms early following whiplash will be established. It will determine whether clinical tests are able to identify those patients with inflamed nerves. It will also determine whether the presence of nerve inflammation can be used to identify patients who develop chronic pain. The study will recruit 115 patients within one month following a whiplash injury and thirty-two healthy volunteers. Participants will undergo a clinical assessment. A blood sample will be taken to look for inflammatory proteins and magnetic resonance imaging will be used to identify nerve inflammation in the neck and wrist. Questionnaires to establish neck disability, pain quality and psychological distress will be completed. MRI findings will be compared to healthy controls. At six-months, patients will be asked to repeat the questionnaires, which will be used to identify those patients who have recovered. Twenty-five recovered and twenty-five non-recovered patients will undergo a repeat MRI and clinical assessment. Although patients on this study will not directly benefit, the findings will help with early diagnosis and could refocus treatment to reduce chronic pain.

Clinical Trial Description

n/a

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Whiplash Injuries

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT04940923
Study type	Observational
Source	University of Sussex
Contact	Andrew Dilley, PhD
Phone	+44 1273 877094
Email	a.dilley@bsms.ac.uk
Status	Recruiting
Phase
Start date	June 1, 2021
Completion date	April 2024

View Details

See also
Status	Clinical Trial	Phase
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Terminated	`NCT00952510` - Maastricht Neck Study: Cervical Range of Motion in Whiplash Patients	N/A
Completed	`NCT03664934` - Pathophysiological Mechanism Behind Prolonged Whiplash Associated Disorders	N/A
Withdrawn	`NCT02060734` - Lidocaine Injection Versus Sham Needling in Treating Whiplash Associated Disorder	Phase 4
Completed	`NCT01957033` - Responses of People With Neck Pain Being Treated With Varying Doses of Manual Therapy: A Pilot Study	N/A
Completed	`NCT01699334` - Effectiveness of an Educational Video Following Acute Whiplash Trauma	N/A
Not yet recruiting	`NCT05536570` - Whiplash-induced Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Treated With Botulinum Toxin.	Phase 4
Completed	`NCT04167930` - The Analysis for Termination of Treatment and Satisfaction in Traffic Accident Patient
Completed	`NCT03502928` - Efficacy of the Use of Dry Needling in Conventional Non-invasive Treatment of Acute and Subacute Whiplash	N/A
Completed	`NCT03729856` - A Novel Intervention to Promote Engagement in Physical Activity for Individuals With Whiplash Associated Disorder	N/A
Completed	`NCT00021476` - Preventing Chronic Whiplash Pain	Phase 3
Completed	`NCT03949959` - Effectiveness of Physiotherapy Following PRP for Chronic Whiplash	N/A
Recruiting	`NCT05198258` - Implementation and Evaluation of Neck-specific Exercises	N/A
Not yet recruiting	`NCT01369238` - East-West Collaborative Medicine Using Bee-Venom Acupuncture on Whiplash-Associated Disorders	N/A
Completed	`NCT02625896` - Free Fall Acrobatics to Reduce Neck Loads During Parachute Opening Shock: Evaluation of an Intervention.	N/A
Terminated	`NCT05161767` - Shifting Away From Pain: Neurocognitive Approach to Explain and Predict Recovery Following Whiplash Injury
Recruiting	`NCT06386068` - Interdisciplinary Value-based Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for People With Persistent Whiplash Associated Disorders.	N/A
Completed	`NCT02692937` - Is Chronic Whiplash-associated Pain of Neurogenic Origin?	N/A
Completed	`NCT05041985` - Clinical Efficacy of Diazepam After Whiplash : A Randomized Controlled Study	Phase 4
Completed	`NCT01601912` - Unraveling the Nature of Impaired Pain Inhibition in Patients With Chronic Whiplash-associated Disorders	Phase 4

Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.

Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.