Whiplash is not a diagnosis but rather an attempt at explaining a mechanism of injury in a road traffic accident. It is in fact a musculo-skeletal strain injury to the neck caused by flexion and extension, rotation and lateral flexion movements of the neck as a result of a road traffic accident. Injuries to the neck may occur at low speed, especially when the impact is sudden and unexpected, ie when the neck is relaxed. Similar injuries may be caused when a pedestrian is pushed violently and unexpectedly in the upper back from behind and also during other activities such as contact sport. The difference between such incidents and for instance a person riding on a bumper car, is that in th

This case involves a 55 year old retired civil servant who was now singing in a sixties style tribute band. He presented with a swelling on the left side of his thyroid gland. A needle biopsy showed this to be benign but he was counselled by the surgeon to have a resection of the left side of his thyroid gland as, “just because we have not found cancer there may still be cancer in the tissues”. He was warned of potential consequences such as bleeding, infection and damage to the parathyroid glands leading to low calcium levels. He signed a consent form and the surgery was carried out. Post operatively they noted he was hoarse and felt this may be due to the intubation of his throat requi