Analysis of visually guided eye movements in subjects after whiplash injury.

OBJECTIVE The aims of present research were to analyze the visually guided eye movements of subjects suffering from the consequences of whiplash injury and the possibility to differentiate patients from feigning subject. We analyzed the role of video-nystagmography for clinical and forensic aspects. METHODS It was a prospective case-control study. Detailed history was taken and patients were thoroughly investigated. Smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements were assessed in 33 patients affected by imbalance following a whiplash injury. A control group of 20 subjects was also evaluated. All tests were executed in neutral neck position and after left and right trunk rotation. RESULTS The t-test, applied to all parameters showed that difference of the parameter between the groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION The visually guided eye movement evaluation does not seem to offer a clinically relevant method to differentiate patients suffering from the effects of whiplash injury from normal subjects.