Whiplash Trauma Essay

The study conducted by Benson et al., (1992) focused on patients after their whiplash injury and whether their symptoms were aggravated or alleviated over time. The authors hypothesized that they would be successful in finding a connection between cerebral dysfunction and the symptoms of whiplash trauma. Twenty-six patients were accommodated in the study for a span of seven months, specifically from November 1988 to June 1989. Within the case, there were eighteen females between the ages of eighteen and forty-six years old, as well as three males between the ages of twenty-four and thirty-five years old. Fifteen of the patients were victims of rear end contact, three experienced a head-on collision, and three were involved in a side hit (Benson …show more content…
At the same time, an MRI scan was produced of each victims’ brain as well (Benson et al., 1992). After the testing, the researchers found that the most excessive and incessant symptoms took place approximately three days after the accident. Immediately after the injury, five patients were unable to concentrate efficiently. After three days, thirteen patients reported problems concentrating and recollecting recent memories. Eighteen of the victims began to experience insomnia, and a separate nine developed symptoms of depression, all within the first three days of the accident. After reviewing the CT cervical scans, each patient showed weakness in the area and an overall limitation of motion in their cervical spine – also presenting a vast amount of sensory loss. The EEG results showed four patients with problems focusing, temporo-occipital problems in two, parieto-occipital issues in one, and temporoparietal lesions in another (Benson et al., 1992). The tests done in connection to the ear and the brain, or otoneurological examinations, showed ten abnormalities in peripheral dysfunction. After communicating with Benson et