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Recent Advances in Prevention, Management, and Rehabilitation of Head and Neck Injuries

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 March 2026 | Viewed by 1254

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Center for Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation and Re-Education (Ce.Fi.R.R.), Venue “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Viale Abruzzo 322, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: physiotherapy; rehabilitation; osteopathy; posturology; sports injuries; myofascial syndromes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation and Re-Education (Ce.Fi.R.R.), Venue “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Viale Abruzzo 322, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: rehabilitation; infectious pathologies; inflammatory pathologies

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, Section of Biomorphology, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
2. Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
Interests: aging; cell signaling; cell death; apoptosis; TRAIL; CREB; ionizing radiation; hematological malignancies; pterygium; histology; embryology; biomorphology; rehabilitation; sports medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Head and neck injuries represent a major challenge for healthcare professionals due to their potential short- and long-term negative consequences for patients.

These injuries can affect almost every segment of the population, from growing infants and elderly people undergoing musculoskeletal aging processes or victims of falls to athletes suffering from trauma or functional overload.

Head and neck pathologies are widespread in various forms, ranging from generic neck pain to traumatic concussions, presenting symptoms like pain, myofascial, postural and neurological dysfunctions, malfunctions of visual and mandibular receptors, and hearing and vestibular problems. Therefore, managing the consequences of these diseases represents a major challenge for physiotherapy, physiatry, sports medicine, orthopedics, neurology, medical semeiotics, otorhinolaryngology, and ophthalmology.

The prevention, management, and rehabilitation of head and neck injuries include a multitude of interventions ranging from physical exercise to soft tissue and receptor rehabilitation supported by advanced technologies and physical therapies, without forgetting acute containment strategies and pharmacological and surgical treatments.

For this reason, we are pleased to invite all researchers and healthcare and medical professionals involved in the management of head and neck pathologies to participate in this Special Issue dedicated to this broad and complex topic, contributing to a perspective of shared multispecialist research.

Prof. Dr. Giovanni Barassi
Prof. Dr. Pier Enrico Gallenga
Prof. Dr. Roberta Di Pietro
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • neck injuries
  • whiplash injuries
  • head injuries
  • concussion
  • neck pain
  • cervicalgia
  • post-concussive syndrome
  • post-concussive symptoms
  • vision disorders
  • hearing disorders
  • emergency care
  • emergency therapies
  • physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • sports medicine

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1471 KB  
Article
Is Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorder Associated with Central Nervous System Impairments? A Controlled Observational Study in a Lithuanian Cohort
by Gintaute Samusyte, Jolita Ciceliene, Evelina Pajediene, Kestutis Stasaitis, Kestutis Petrikonis and Indre Bileviciute-Ljungar
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(17), 6222; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176222 - 3 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the natural course of a whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) in a Lithuanian population with low awareness of the condition. Methods: In this controlled observational study, 45 participants, enrolled during the acute period after [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the natural course of a whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) in a Lithuanian population with low awareness of the condition. Methods: In this controlled observational study, 45 participants, enrolled during the acute period after motor vehicle accident, and 50 matched controls were followed up at 8 months. Clinical evaluation of WAD grades was combined with self-scored questionnaires for pain, WAD symptoms, disability, emotional state, and cognitive impairment. The Quebec Task Force Questionnaire was used to assess persistence or development of new symptoms at follow-up. Demographic and sick leave data were collected. Results: The WAD group showed a significant improvement in clinical signs and self-rated scores for pain and disability after 8 months and became largely comparable to the control group. However, only 13 out of 45 WAD participants were symptom-free at follow-up. Persistent neck pain and dizziness/unsteadiness as well as newly developed cognitive complaints were more frequent in the WAD group compared to controls, each reported by around a third of individuals. Logistic regression showed that new cognitive symptoms could be predicted by nausea/vomiting in the acute period and persisting neck pain at follow-up. None of the participants remained on sick leave at follow-up. Conclusions: In a country with low awareness of WAD, a larger proportion of individuals remain symptomatic months after acute whiplash injury but maintain their ability to work. The emergence of new cognitive complaints may suggest concomitant central nervous system involvement. Full article
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10 pages, 2842 KB  
Article
Synergistic Effect of Polydeoxyribonucleotides with Low-Level Lasers on the Regeneration of Crush-Injured Facial Nerves
by Kyung Hoon Sun, Cheol Hee Choi and Chul Ho Jang
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(5), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14051678 - 1 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The regeneration of the facial nerve using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been infrequently reported. Polydeoxyribonucleotides (PDRNs), a blend of short deoxyribonucleotide polymers known for their non-toxic and non-allergic properties, are recognized as a stimulator of cell growth that enhances cell [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The regeneration of the facial nerve using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been infrequently reported. Polydeoxyribonucleotides (PDRNs), a blend of short deoxyribonucleotide polymers known for their non-toxic and non-allergic properties, are recognized as a stimulator of cell growth that enhances cell proliferation and supports wound healing. This study investigates the synergistic effect of the topical sustained release of PDRN/F-127 and LLLT on facial nerve regeneration following crush injury-induced paralysis in rats. Methods: The main trunk of the facial nerve was compressed for 1 min using a hemostat. Animals were divided into five groups: a control group (n = 4), group I (Pluronic F-127 only, n = 4), group II (Pluronic F-127/PDRN, n = 4), group III (Pluronic F-127 + LLLT, n = 4), and group IV (Pluronic F-127/PDRN + LLLT, n = 4). We measured the recovery of vibrissa fibrillation, action potential, and facial nerve blood flow (FNBF). Results: Group IV exhibited a comparatively faster development of vibrissa fibrillation over time than the other groups. After the intervention, significant differences in vibrissa fibrillation values were observed at all time points (p = 0.0028) according to the repeated one-way ANOVA. Regarding the threshold of action potential, all five groups revealed a significant difference (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.0001; multiple comparisons via Tukey’s test). Among the groups, group IV showed a significantly reduced threshold of action potential compared to the other groups. Group IV showed the most notable recovery in FNBF compared to the other groups. One-way ANOVA showed a significant difference (p < 0.0001; multiple comparisons by Dunnett’s test). Conclusions: These findings suggest that PDRN and LLLT may work together synergistically to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration. Future studies should investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms and evaluate the potential clinical applications of this combined treatment strategy. Full article
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