Whiplash injury is surrounded by controversy in both the medical and legal world. The debate on whether it is either a potentially serious medical condition or a social problem is ongoing. This paper briefly examines a selection of studies on low velocity whiplash injury (LVWI) and whiplash associated disorder (WAD) and touches upon the pathophysiological and epidemiological considerations, cultural and geographical differences and the effect of litigation on chronicity. The study concludes that the evidence for significant physical injury after LVWI is poor, and if significant disability is present after such injury, it will have to be explained in terms of psychosocial factors.

The August 2012 Spine Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: neural tissue and polymerising bone cement; a new prognostic score for spinal metastases from prostatic tumours; recovery after spinal decompression; spinal tuberculosis; unintended durotomy at spinal surgery; how carrying a load on your head can damage the cervical spine; and how age changes your lumbar spine.