Five years or more after automobile accidents which caused softtissue injuries of the neck in 146 patients who had no pre-existing cervical degenerative hanges, evaluation revealed statistically significant positive correlations between poor results and the following findings shortly after injury: numbness or pain, or both, in an upper extremity; sharp reversal of the cervical lordosis visible on roentgenograms; restricted motion at one interspace as shown by flexion-extension roentgenograms; need for a cervical collar for more than twelve weeks, or for home traction; and need to resume physical therapy more than once because of recurrence of symptoms. Symptomatic recovery occurred in 57 per cent of the 146 patients, while degenerative changes developed after the injury in 39 per cent.