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https://doi.org/10.14300/mnnc.2025.20045

Clinical and diagnostic features of cranio-cervical whiplash injury associated with traumatic brain injury

[Reviews]
Andrey Anatolyevich Chekhonatsky; Natalia Evgenievna Komleva; Vladimir Andreevich Chekhonatsky; Urzaleeva Irina Aleksandrovna; Dmitrii Nikolaevich  Filatov;

The review presents current aspects of diagnosis and clinical management of cranio-cervical («whiplash») trauma combined with traumatic brain injury (TBI). An analysis of the epidemiological, pathogenetic, and clinical features of this injury type is provided, with an emphasis on the challenges of timely detection, the high variability in clinical presentation, and the risk of chronic symptom development. The review is based on publications from the past 15 years indexed in PubMed, eLibrary, Cochrane Library, and Medline. Particular attention is given to the lack of standardization in diagnostic criteria and the absence of unified management algorithms for patients with combined trauma. Contemporary approaches to imaging diagnostics (X-ray, CT, MRI) and differential diagnosis are summarized, along with a critical evaluation of existing classifications and treatment protocols. Management of patients with cranio-cervical trauma associated with TBI requires a multidisciplinary approach. The development of standardized diagnostic algorithms, increased clinical awareness, and implementation of evidence-based rehabilitation programs are essential to optimize outcomes in this patient population.

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Keywords: whiplash, craniocerebral trauma, cervical spine injury, clinic, diagnosis of whiplash