Electronystagmographic Findings Following Cervical Whiplash Injuries

Abstract

A group of 262 patients suffering from the after-effects of an acceleration trauma of the neck were subjected to an extensive vestibular examination. 85% of the patients complained of some type of vertigo. The visual suppression test conducted during rotation showed pathology in 37% of the cases. Visual pursuit movements were affected in 43% of the cases. In a group of 41 patients the results obtained respectively 1 and 2 years after the accident were compared. There was no significant improvement of the findings. No oculomotor system pathology was found in 99 cases (38%), and no electronystagmographic pathology at all in 55 cases (21%). The study emphasized the fact that nystagmographic examinations are able to detect central vestibular dysfunction and is therefore a suitable method to prove pathology.