A review of the literature refuting the concept of minor impact soft tissue injury.

BACKGROUND Minor impact soft tissue (MIST) is an insurance industry concept that seeks to identify late whiplash as a psychosocial phenomenon. However, the medical literature in this area has not been systematically reviewed since the Quebec Task Force's review in 1995. OBJECTIVE To review the medical literature which claims that late whiplash is an organic phenomenon causing significant disability. METHODS The medical literature was reviewed in a narrative format. RESULTS There are a significant number of studies which refute the MIST concept. CONCLUSION A review of the literature did not support the validity of MIST.