Data for research paper: Temporal development of peripheral neuroinflammation in whiplash-associated disorder grade II and its role in chronicity

<b>Data for paper appearing in ‘Pain’. February 2026.</b>Data is arranged by figure, with each Excel tab corresponding to a different figure. It includes global recovery question percent scores (Figure 1), temporal changes (acute phase and at six month follow-up) in pain and neck disability (Figure 2), MRI T2-signal ratios for the C5-C8 roots of the brachial plexus (Figure 3) and C5-C8 dorsal root ganglia (Figure 4), and the median nerve at the carpal tunnel (Figure 5) in whiplash-associated disorder grade 2 (WADII) participants. It also includes temporal changes in heightened nerve trunk mechanosensitivity (Figure 6) and blood serum concentrations of inflammatory mediators (Figure 8), and measures of recovery for the main WADII cohort (Figure 9). Data for the regression analysis are included (Tables 2 and 3). For figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, and Tables 2 and 3, each row represents data from the same participant.<br><br><b>Abstract</b><br><br>Whiplash injuries cause considerable pain and disability. Most individuals are diagnosed with whiplash-associated disorder grade II (WADII), which is defined by the absence of frank nerve injury. However, studies indicate possible peripheral neuroinflammation in some individuals with WADII that may contribute to symptoms. The temporal changes of peripheral neuroinflammation in WADII remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the course of peripheral neuroinflammation from acute to chronic stages and assess whether neuroinflammation in the acute stage predicts recovery 6 months postinjury. Sixty-two WADII participants, who were examined within 4 weeks of a whiplash injury, returned for a follow-up appointment at 6 months. Thirty-two percent (n = 20) of participants considered themselves to be all better at 6 months based on a global recovery question. Magnetic resonance imaging T2-weighted signal ratio of the C5 to C8 roots of the brachial plexus, associated dorsal root ganglia, and median nerve, were similar at both time points. Signs of heightened nerve mechanosensitivity reduced significantly at 6 months, as did mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in the upper limb. Inflammatory mediator serum levels were unaltered at 6 months, except for tumour necrosis factor-α, which was reduced. Multivariable regression analysis indicated that heightened nerve mechanosensitivity (reduced elbow range of motion) in the acute stage was weakly prognostic for neuropathic pain classification at 6 months. Although many participants recovered at 6 months, the data show that peripheral neuroinflammation may persist in some individuals. These findings highlight the complexity of WADII and the contribution of neuroinflammation in both acute and chronic stages.

**发表于《Pain》2026年2月刊的论文配套数据**
本数据集按图表编号整理，Excel工作簿的每个工作表对应一幅独立图表。数据集纳入2级鞭打相关障碍（whiplash-associated disorder grade 2, WADII）受试者的如下数据：整体恢复自评百分比得分（图1）；疼痛与颈部残疾随时间的动态变化（急性期及6个月随访时，图2）；臂丛神经C5~C8神经根（图3）、C5~C8背根神经节（图4）及腕管处正中神经（图5）的MRI T2信号比值。此外还包含：神经干机械敏感性升高的时序变化（图6）、炎症介质血清浓度变化（图8），以及核心WADII队列的恢复相关评估指标（图9）。回归分析所需数据已纳入本数据集（表2、表3）。针对图2、3、4、5、6、8、9及表2、表3，每一行数据均来自同一名受试者。

**摘要**
鞭打损伤可引发显著疼痛与功能残疾。多数患者被诊断为2级鞭打相关障碍（WADII），该类疾病的核心定义为无明确神经损伤。但现有研究显示，部分WADII患者可能存在外周神经炎症，且该炎症或参与疾病症状的发生发展。目前学界对WADII患者外周神经炎症的动态变化仍缺乏清晰认知。本研究旨在探究外周神经炎症从急性期至慢性期的进展过程，并评估急性期神经炎症是否可预测损伤后6个月的恢复情况。本研究共纳入62名鞭打损伤后4周内就诊的WADII受试者，所有受试者均在损伤后6个月完成随访。基于整体恢复自评条目，32%的受试者（n=20）在6个月随访时自述完全康复。两次随访时点的臂丛神经C5~C8神经根、对应背根神经节及正中神经的MRI T2加权信号比值均无显著差异。6个月随访时，神经机械敏感性升高的体征显著改善，上肢机械痛敏与热痛敏亦出现类似缓解。6个月随访时，除肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumour necrosis factor-α, TNF-α）水平显著下降外，其余炎症介质的血清浓度均无明显变化。多变量回归分析显示，急性期的神经机械敏感性升高（肘关节活动范围减小）可轻度预测6个月时的神经病理性疼痛分类结果。尽管多数受试者在6个月时实现康复，但本研究数据显示，部分患者的外周神经炎症可能持续存在。本研究结果凸显了WADII的病理复杂性，以及神经炎症在疾病急性期与慢性期的潜在作用。