Because of its anatomical complexity, the cervical spine is highly susceptible to injury, especially the blunt acceleration/ deceleration trauma commonly referred to as “whip-lash,” which is among the most frequent mechanisms of injury to this area [1]. The es-timated cumulative annual incidence is up to 3/1000 per year in the US and western Europe, with the cervical spine accounting for 10% of all spine injuries, of which 40% involve the Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2) [2]. The significance and complexity of whiplash are widely underestimated. This is mainly due to the belief that whiplash injuries are es-sentially benign self-limiting, soft tissue injuries [3] a belief that has, historically, been significantly shaped by the insurance industry. This framing of the injury has often caused medical providers to view the injury with skepticism; however, studies have shown that approximately 50% of whiplash patients suffer chronic neck-related disability [4]. The skepticism these injuries face, as well as the additional pressures imposed by guidelines for diagnosing and treating acute whiplash, has placed both the provider and the patient at increased risk.

Keywords: Whiplash; Cervical spine; Ponticulus posticus; Vertebral artery dissection; Chiropractic; X-rays