Eye motility and auditory brainstem response dysfunction after whiplash injury

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Clinical Neurology
• Traumatology

Background:

• Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) are common after neck injuries.
• Grades II and III WAD involve moderate to severe symptoms.
• Objective diagnostic markers for chronic whiplash are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of brain/brainstem dysfunction following acute whiplash trauma (grades II-III).
• To explore the correlation between chronic symptoms and objective findings from auditory brainstem response (ABR) and eye motility tests.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of whiplash trauma patients followed for 2 years.
• Utilized auditory brainstem response (ABR) and oculomotor tests.
• Included comprehensive clinical, subjective, and psychological evaluations.

Main Results:

• No universal prognostic clinical signs were identified initially.
• Some patients with clinical symptoms showed pathological ABR and eye motility test results.
• Clinical and test result improvements were observed in some patients; deterioration in others over 2 years.

Conclusions:

• Moderate derangements in ABR and eye motility tests may relate to pain or altered cervical afferent activity.
• Eye motility dysfunction and neuro-otological findings in severe cases might indicate brain/brainstem lesions.
• Objective tests like ABR and oculomotor assessments can reveal underlying dysfunction in whiplash patients.