Neurootological findings in 131 whiplash patients
Abstract
Whiplash patients referred for neurootological investigation underwent the full test battery including electronystagmography for spontaneous and positional nystgmus, ocular smooth pursuit, saccades, caloric responses and visual suppression during the caloric response. In most patients visual suppression was also performed using a broad frequency rotatory chair. Dynamic posturography was performed, in some patients even with head position provokation and the pursuit test using a broad frequency program. Pure tone audiometry was done.
The mean age was 35 years, 88 were women and 43 men. Several years had passed since the accident, ususally a rear end or side collision in cars. The severity of WAD was Quebec II-III.
Most pathology was found in the sinusoidal ocular pursuit test (31%) and the broad frequency randomized one (71%). The visual suppression was pathological in 18%, but 47% if performed broadfrequently. Findings in sponaneous or gaze nystagmus were infrequent. In 42% there were some findings even in the videooculoscopy. The posturography had a significant number of positive findings, more so with the neck turned.
The findings indicate that neurootological investigation is of value. The disturbances may be caused by a neck and/or brainstem lesion.
