Assessment of the Alignment of the Atlas and Surrounding Tissues in Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder

Treating some neurological conditions, like chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD), is highly challenging for medical practitioners. Patients with chronic WAD frequently visit their general practitioner because it's hard to pinpoint the cause of their symptoms. This makes finding the right treatment very difficult. The number of chronic WAD cases is rising worldwide, costing Europe an estimated 10 billion euros annually. Half of all whiplash injuries develop into chronic conditions, leading to significant disability and societal costs. These patients face major limitations in daily activities, greatly affecting their quality of life.

Whiplash is an injury caused by the rapid forward and backward movement of the neck, leading to injuries in bones or soft tissues, along with various symptoms. Recent studies indicate that muscles affected by whiplash may show increased fat buildup and reduced muscle volume. However, these changes in muscle do not completely account for the pain and other symptoms reported. Besides soft tissues, whiplash can also injure bone structures, including the cervical spine. Until now, studies focused mainly on fractures of the cervical spine, often overlooking the position and alignment of the atlas and dens (C1 and C2).

The aim of this study is to apply advanced imaging technologies to assess the position and alignment of the Atlas (C1) and the surrounding tissues. The study has three main goals:

i. Study the feasibility and repeatability of state-of-the-art MRI measurements in 30 healthy controls across an age range of 18 to 75 years.

ii. Assess the position and alignment of the Atlas and surrounding tissues using MRI in patients with WAD, compared to patients with tension headaches and healthy control participants;

iii. Relate these MRI parameters to neurological examinations and questionnaires (patient- reported outcome measures) in patients with WAD and tension headaches.

Inclusion criteria

Participants fulfilling the criteria mentioned below:

Control participants In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a participant must meet the following criteria:

• Healthy individuals
• Ability to follow test instructions
• Aged between 18 - 75 years

Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a participant must meet the following criteria:

• Healthy individuals
• Ability to follow test instructions
• WAD 1 or 2 Diagnosis
• Aged between 18 - 75 years

Tension headache

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a participant must meet the following criteria:

• Healthy individuals
• Ability to follow test instructions
• Diagnosis Tension headache
• Aged between 18 -75 years

Exclusion criteria

A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• Inability to provide informed consent
• Have a history of claustrophobia
• Patient/ participant is not eligible to follow instructions
• Contra-indication for MRI (e.g., pacemaker, claustrophobia)
• Being under investigation for non-diagnosed disease at the time of investigation