To investigate the influence of acute vestibular impairment following mild traumatic brain injury on subsequent ability to remain on activity duty 12 months later.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between acute vestibular dysfunction as measured by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the Dynamic Visual Acuity Test and the ability to remain on active duty status in the U.S. military 1 year after mild traumatic brain injury. This longitudinal prospective study was conducted by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Clinic at Marine Corp Base, Camp Pendleton, California. Participants (n = 47, controls = 44) were referrals to the clinic who had sustained a mild traumatic brain injury and were initially seen within 6 days of injury, then weekly for 1 month, and for follow-up 12 months later. The results demonstrated that those on active duty at 12 months were older in age, had more years of service, and had no history of psychiatric illness or apparent secondary gain issues. Acute vestibular dysfunction and demographic and injury variables were not significantly correlated or predictive of work status at 12 months.