[Whiplash injury (author's transl)].

The whiplash injury is the result of a collision from behind in the motorized street traffic. The impact in the rear of the vehicle causes a sudden thrust to of the head and cervical spine in dorsal direction. The result is a shear effect of the cervical spine. Pathologically, this is characterized by hematoma of the capsules of the joints of the vertebral arches and contents of intervertebral foramina. Tears of discs and vertebral fractures are usually absent. The prognosis is good.