Abstract

ORTEGA PEREZ, A.. Fibromyalgia may develop as the result of a traumatic injury. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2004, n.38, pp.21-26. ISSN 1988-611X.

Fibromyalgia is a known disease, with a prevalence of around 2.5 % of the Spanish population over 20 years old. A significant aspect of the disease is that a certain amount of fibromyalgics declare that their illness appeared soon after suffering a mild or severe trauma. Patients with post-traumatic fibromyalgia show the same signs and symptoms as those with primary fibromyalgia and their prognosis is similar or somewhat worse than the latter. Among other factors determining the agreement with the diagnosis of post-traumatic fibromyalgia, is the specialty of the doctor: rheumatologists seem the most prone to accept it while the majority of orthopedists tend to reject it. According to different publications, the claim for compensation does not modify signs and symptoms or the outcome of these patients. In conclusion, forensic doctors should keep in mind the possibility that the injured patient that does not heal following the usual course of time may suffer from post-traumatic fibromyalgia.

Keywords : Etiology; evaluation; fibromyalgia; traffic accident; trauma.

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