Emerging Role of Prefrontal Lobe Involving Visual Function in a Case with Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Authors

  • Yao Cheng Wu School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan Author
  • Jing Ting Lin Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Author
  • ShinTsu Chang Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47363/wk0kh355

Keywords:

Whiplash, Visual Impairment, Prefrontal Lobe, Frontal Eye Field, Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Scintigrphic Rehabilitation, Cerebral Blood Flow, NociceptiveVascular Hypothesis

Abstract

Whiplash, often resulting from vehicle accidents, can cause bony or soft tissue injuries leading to clinical symptoms related to the cervical spine or brain. However, diagnosing whiplash objectively is challenging, as acute phase abnormalities in the cervical spine or brain are difficult to detect through anatomic/ structural imaging. We present a case of a 54-year-old woman suffering from Whiplash-Associated Disorder (WAD) without abnormal structural abnormalities. Using brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to measure regional cerebral blood flow, hypoperfusion was observed in the bilateral prefrontal regions and parietal/occipital lobes, which was associated with her visual impairment. We support the nociceptive-vascular hypothesis and propose an additional role for the prefrontal lobe in contributing to WAD in patients following whiplash injury. Further investigation is needed to monitor the effects of brain perfusion after treatment using SPECT.

Author Biographies

  • Yao Cheng Wu, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

  • Jing Ting Lin, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

  • ShinTsu Chang, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

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Published

2024-10-08

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 10 (2024): Volume 6 Issue 10

Section

Articles