In WAD assessment, radiographs may not be diagnostic and diagnosis can be confirmed with an anesthetic block under fluoroscopic guidance. Is this statement true?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Cannot determine

Answer: (A)

Imaging often cannot pinpoint the pain source in whiplash-associated disorders because radiographs miss many soft-tissue and facet joint issues; they can be normal even when pain is present. To confirm whether a specific cervical structure is driving the pain, a diagnostic anesthetic block is used under fluoroscopic guidance to place the anesthetic precisely into the target (such as a facet joint or medial branch nerve). If the patient experiences meaningful relief after the block, it supports that the targeted structure is the pain generator. Using fluoroscopy improves needle accuracy and safety, making the diagnostic block a reliable confirmation method in WAD assessment. Therefore, the statement is true.