Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in whiplash injury: a prospective study.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients affected by whiplash-associated disorder presented alterations of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs). VEMP testing may be an important 'forensic' diagnostic tool in the assessment of cervical spine injury.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate changes in VEMPs in the assessment of whiplash injuries.


METHODS
Fourteen patients complaining of whiplash injury were examined and compared with 15 controls. All patients underwent VEMP testing within 7 days from the injury and 90 days after whiplash injury. Beside VEMPs, standard investigation consisted of pure-tone and speech audiometry, impedance audiometry and evaluation of the vestibular system.


RESULTS
All subjects presented normal hearing, normal impedence audiometry findings, and normal vestibular function. VEMPs were present both in patients affected by whiplash injury and in the control group at time 0. At 90 days VEMPs were absent in two cases (14.3%). Statistical analysis showed that at time 0 and at time 90 days p1 latency was significantly higher in whiplash patients compared with healthy subjects on both sides (p < 0.002). The amplitude of p1-n1 was significantly lower in whiplash patients at time 0 (p = 0.003 on the right and p = 0.018 on the left), but not at 90 days.
Solarino
Biagio
B
Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Coppola
Francesco
F
Di Vella
Giancarlo
G
Corsalini
Massimo
M
Quaranta
Nicola
N
D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058585:Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult