Introduction. Whiplash injury following rear shunt Road traffic accident (RTA) has been associated with impingement syndrome of shoulder. However, the results of arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASAD) for this group of patients have never been compared to the non accident group. In our study we aim to compare the results of ASAD in these patients to a group who did not sustain whiplash injury. Materials/Methods. Thirteen patients with impingement syndrome following rear shunt RTA were followed up (2004–09). After failed conservative management for at least 6 months ASAD was performed. This group was compared with a control group (not involved in an RTA) of 13 consecutive patients (age and sex matched). All patients were assessed with Oxford shoulder score preoperatively and twice post operatively (within 3 months and at one year). Results. In the RTA group all 13 patients showed improvement in their oxford score over one year. While the improvement was only Marginal (p= 0.08) at three months it was better at the end of a year (p=0.04). Comparatively in the cohort without the whiplash injury the improvement was more marked in the first three months (p=0.05) with significant improvement at the end of the year (p=0.03). The overall improvement in Oxford score was more in the cohort of patients who were not involved in a RTA as opposed to the RTA group (p= 0.05). Conclusion. The results of the study show that even though there was an improvement in shoulder scores after an arthroscopic subacromial decompression it was much slower and overall results were inferior in the RTA group as opposed to the controls and hence prognosis should be guarded when offering ASAD for patients with whiplash injury

The NDI is a simple 10-item questionnaire used to assess patients with neck pain. The original validation was performed on 52 patients with neck pain and the test-retest on 17 whiplash patients with a 2-day interval. The SF36 measures functional ability, wellbeing and the overall health of patients. It is used in health economics to assess the health utility, gain and economic impact of medical interventions. Objectives were to independently validate the NDI in patients with neck pain and to draw comparison between the NDI and SF36. 160 patients with neck pain attending the spinal clinic completed self-assessment questionnaires. A second questionnaire was completed in 34 patients after a period of 1-2 weeks. The internal consistency of the NDI and SF36 was calculated using Cronbach alpha. The test-retest reliability was assessed using the Bland and Altman method and the concurrent validity between the two questionnaires was assessed using Pearson correlation. Both questionnaires showed robust internal consistency: SF36 alpha = 0.878 (se=0.014, 95%CI=0.843 to 0.906) and NDI = 0.864 (se=0.017, 95%CI=0.825 to 0.894). The NDI had significant correlation to all eight domains of the SF36 (p<0.001). The individual scores for each of the ten items had significant correlation with the total disability score (p<0.001). The test-retest reliability of the NDI was acceptable. We have shown irrefutably that the NDI has good reliability and validity and that it stands up well to the SF36