Ann Oto Rhinol Laryn
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Ann Oto Rhinol Laryn · Mar 2003
Case ReportsAcute peripheral vestibular deficits after whiplash injuries.
We report 3 patients who had acute peripheral vestibular dysfunction minutes to hours after a car collision with whiplash injury without head trauma. The accident was a frontal collision in 1 case, a rear impact in the second, and lateral in the third. All patients complained immediately of cervicalgia, headache, acute vertigo with a sensation of erroneous body movements, and slipping of image with head movements. ⋯ Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging yielded normal findings. As angular and linear accelerometers, the vestibular organs are directly exposed to high forces generated by whiplash mechanisms. Vertigo generated by peripheral vestibular lesions is probably underestimated in whiplash injuries and may often be incorrectly attributed to cervical or cerebral lesions.