Horizontal Canal Benign Positional Vertigo

The existence of horizontal canal benign positional vertigo (BPV) was predicted from temporal bone studies in 1973, but was not clinically confirmed until later. In this series of 300 patients with BPV, 35 (12%) were identified as having the horizontal canal variant. The essential features are the onset of vertigo when the patient assumes a supine position and bidirectional horizontal nystagmus as the head is turned from side to side. In one third it appeared as a canal “conversion” in patients undergoing repositioning treatment for posterior canal BPV. The mechanism can be canalithiasis or cupulolithiasis. Repositioning treatment is a 360° horizontal head and body rotation that has a high success rate if the symptomatic ear is correctly identified.

Benign Positional Vertigo: Prognostic Factors

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: We sought to assess prognostic factors associated with initial successful treatment and recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) with the canalith repositioning (CRP) maneuver with mastoid vibration. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 104 consecutive BPPV patients at a tertiary care referral center during 1999.

METHODS: The main outcome measures were resolution of BPPV and absence of nystagmus on Hallpike maneuver.

RESULTS: Ninety-three patients (89.4%) experienced initial symptom resolution, and 21 of the initially successful patients had a recurrence (recurrence rate of 22.6%). Prior trauma or labyrinthitis was found to predict the lowest initial CRP success. Endolymphatic hydrops and central nervous system-related dizziness as cofactors with BPPV were associated with the highest recurrence rates.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Specific concurrent otologic conditions are associated with different outcomes in BPPV. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004;130:426-9.)

BPPV and Variants: Improved Treatment Results with Automated, Nystagmus-Based Repositioning

OBJECTIVE: Although classical benign paroxysmal positional vertigo has generally been resolvable by routine manual repositioning maneuvers, nevertheless resistant cases and variants remain a significant problem. We investigated the efficacy of analyzing and treating positional vertigo with a system that provides unlimited, automated maneuverability of the patient while maintaining constant electronic monitoring of nystagmus.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A power-driven, multi-axial positioning chair combined with ongoing infrared video-oculography was used to manage 986 subjects in a tertiary clinical setting with complaints of positional vertigo. A nystagmus-based strategy and condition-specific protocols were used.

RESULTS: Significantly enhanced treatment outcomes were achieved, especially regarding intransigent and variant forms. Pertinent correlations were noted.

CONCLUSION: This multi-axial positioning chair combination provided enhanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities for managing positional vertigo, apparently due to improved analytical capability, precision repeatability, and unlimited 360-degree maneuverability.

SIGNIFICANCE: This advancement should be considered for tertiary management of complicated labyrinthine lithiasis.

Diagnostic, Pathophysiologic, and Therapeutic Aspects of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common peripheral vestibular disorder. It can be defined as transient vertigo induced by a rapid head position change, associated with a characteristic paroxysmal positional nystagmus. Canalolithiasis of the posterior semicircular canal is considered the most convincing theory of its pathogenesis and the development of appropriate therapeutic maneuvers resulted in its effective treatment. However, involvement of the horizontal or the anterior canal has been found in a significant rate and the recognition and treatment of these variants completed the clinical picture of the disease. This paper describes the advances in understanding how this disease is generated and discusses the current therapeutic modalities.

[A clinical study into the vestibular function and therapy of patients with chronic positional symptoms after acute vestibular syndrome]

Objective:To investigate the status of the vestibular function of the patients with chronic positional symptoms after peripheral acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) and the curative effect of the vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). Method:Using caloric test (CT), head shaking nystagmus test (HST), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials as well as ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials to estimate the function of semicircular canal and otolith organs. The patients with normal VEMPs are divided as Group A. Otherwise are as Group B. Both groups are treated with VRT. The curative effect is estimated by vestibular symptom index (VSI) and Berg balance scale (BBS). Result:Thirty-three of 37 patients (86.5%) had an abnormal result of CT and HST, with 23 of these patients (65.7%) had an abnormal of both test. Twenty-two patients (59.5%) were in Group A and 15 (40.5%) in Group B. Before the therapy, Group B had a higher score of the balance and dizziness symptoms of VSI (P<0.05), and Group A had a higher score of the BBS (P<0.05). After the therapy, the VSI scores of both groups dropped and scores of the BBS raised. Conclusion:Patients with chronic positional symptoms after peripheral AVS have dynamic vestibular lesions to different extents. Those with otolith organs lesions tend to have a worse function of balance. Nevertheless, patients have a better off after VRT.

[Study of BPPV precise manipulation treatment]

Objective:To explore the effect of the BPPV precision manipulation treatment. Method:With 3D SLICER software we segment structure such as semicircular canal, eye ball, orbital and ear rod from MRI or CT volume data of patients which underwent MRI or CT scaning of inner ear, for measuring the spatial direction of semicircular canals and building semicircular canal modules with standard space coordinate system and embedding into 3D PDF files. Result:With the slice that divide the semicircular canal equally as the semicircular canal plane and the eyeball as reference object to determine whether it is symmetric, it is not only intuitive but also reliable for measuring the angle between the posterior semicircular canal. 3D PDF is intuitive, rotation angle can be adjusted according to the individual differences in the process of manipulation treatment, to observe and demonstrate the theoretical reduction effect before the actual operation. Conclusion:By reconstruction the three-dimensional semicircular canal structure from the inner ear image data of patients and measurement of the semicircular canal space direction, it is of a certain significance for BPPV precision manipulation treatment.

An approach to vertigo in general practice

BACKGROUND

Dizziness is a common and very distressing presentation in general practice. In more than half of these cases, the dizziness is due to vertigo, which is the illusion of movement of the body or its surroundings. It can have central or peripheral causes, and determining the cause can be difficult.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is to provide a clear framework for approaching patients who present with vertigo. A suggested approach to the assessment of vertigo is outlined.

DISCUSSION

The causes of vertigo may be central (involving the brainstem or cerebellum) or peripheral (involving the inner ear). A careful history and physical examination can distinguish between these causes. The most common causes of vertigo seen in primary care are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuronitis (VN) and Ménière's disease. These peripheral causes of vertigo are benign, and treatment involves reassurance and management of symptoms.

10 years of Vertigo Clinic at National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria: what have we learned?

The clinician's major role in management of the dizzy patient involves determining what dizziness is vertigo, and what vertigo is of central or peripheral origin. These demand attention to details of history, otolaryngological workup including vestibular assessment, and often use of diagnostic and management algorithms. There is paucity of published reports of the management outcomes of peripheral vestibular diseases from Africa. Two tertiary care otologist-led dedicated vertigo clinics are located in Abuja, Nigeria. A prospective, non-randomized study of patients presenting with features of peripheral vestibular diseases attending the National Hospital Abuja Nigeria (between May 2005 and April 2014) and CSR Otologics Specialist Clinics (May 2010 to April 2014) was carried out. Both institutions adopted the same diagnostic and management protocols. Data extracted from anonymized databases created for this study include age, sex, vertigo duration (acute <12 weeks, chronic >12 weeks), dizziness handicap inventory score at presentation and at subsequent visits, otological and vestibular findings, ice-water caloric testing results, other investigation outcomes, treatments offered and outcomes. 561/575 (97.5 %) of the cases recorded had peripheral vestibular disease. The male-to-female ratio was 290:271. The mean age of the subjects was 44.7 years. Duration of vertigo at presentation was acute in 278 subjects and chronic in 283 subjects. Identifiable clinical diagnostic groups include BPPV (n = 200), Meniere's disease (n = 189), cervicogenic vertigo (n = 35), labyrinthitis (n = 32), Migraine-associated vertigo (MAV) (n = 32), cholesteatoma/perilymph Fistula (n = 10), climacteric vertigo (n = 8) and unclassified vertigo (n = 55). Migraine-associated vertigo recorded the highest DHI score (95 % CI 75 ± 4.3), followed by cholesteatoma/perilymph fistula (95 % CI 72 ± 6.1) and labyrinthitis (95 % CI 62 ± 1.9). Pure tone audiometry (95 % CI 67.3 ± 3.43), followed by thyroid function tests (95 % CI 66.7 ± 23.55) and ice-water caloric testing (95 % CI 59.7 ± 2.69) were investigations with the highest yields. 86.5 % of cases were treated by either vestibular suppressant medications alone (n = 285) and/or particle repositioning maneuver (n = 200) with improvement in vertigo control (95 % CI 63.63 to 74.37 % and 62.59 to 75.41 %, respectively). Peripheral vestibular diseases constitute majority of cases of self-reported vertigo seen in our setting. Migraine-associated vertigo seen in our setting all have peripheral vestibular signs. Dedicated vertigo clinics could significantly improve the diagnostic and treatment yield in a resource-constrained setting like ours. Most cases can be managed using non-operative measures.

Vertigo and dizziness in children

Vertigo and dizziness of at least moderate severity occur in >5% of school-aged children and cause considerable restrictions in participation in school and leisure activity. More than 50% of dizzy children also have headache. Vestibular migraine and benign paroxysmal vertigo as a migraine precursor are the most common diagnoses in dizziness clinics for children and adolescents. They account for 30-60% of diagnoses. Other common causes are somatoform, orthostatic, or posttraumatic dizziness. All other disorders that are known to cause vertigo and dizziness in adults also occur in children, but incidence rates are usually lower. The vestibular and balance systems are largely developed after 1 year of age. Therefore, clinical and laboratory testing is reliable. Brain magnetic resonance imaging to exclude severe conditions, such as a brainstem tumor, is necessary only if clinical - in particular, ocular motor - testing is abnormal. Most conditions causing vertigo and dizziness in childhood and adolescence are treatable. Nonpharmacologic prophylaxis should always be recommended in vestibular migraine. Behavioral support is useful in somatization. Evidence for the effectiveness of drug therapy is largely based on experience in adult populations. High-quality controlled studies in childhood cohorts are sparse. It is important to make a correct diagnosis early on, as counseling and appropriate treatment may avoid chronic illness.

[Vestibular migraine]

Dizziness caused by migraine, vestibular migraine (VM), has been highly debated over the last three decades. The co-morbidity of migraine and dizziness is higher than a random concurrence. One third of the patients with migraine and dizziness have VM. Recently, The International Headache Society approved VM as a diagnostic entity and the diagnostic criteria for VM appear in the appendix for The International Classification of Headache Disorders. VM is common but often underdiagnosed. Treatment follows migraine management guidelines although evidence is sparse.

Faints, fits and funny turns for the physician

The diagnosis and management of the dizzy patient presents the physician with significant challenges. Dizziness and imbalance are common complaints among the general population, affecting around one-third of people over the age of 65 years, and can result from a range of causes spanning many medical disciplines. The ability to take a thorough, accurate history with a logical framework for formulating a differential diagnosis is essential given the many ways that symptoms of dizziness can present. An understanding of the key features of the vestibular examination, and consideration of other pathologies including neurological and cardiac, are important. This conference was held with the aim of demystifying the dizzy patient by providing physicians with a practical approach to the assessment and management of dizziness, imbalance and 'funny turns'.

Sudden hearing loss and vertigo after tooth extraction successfully treated with combined therapy including HBO2: a case report

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a decrease in hearing of at least 30 dB that occurs within three days and which affects at least three consecutive frequencies in either ear or both ears. This case report describes a woman who had sudden hearing loss and vertigo in the right ear after tooth extraction. As the first-line therapy, systemic and intratympanic steroid injections were used this led to a slight improvement; however, the majority of improvement in hearing was not observed until hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy was instituted on the 20th day of hearing loss. Sudden hearing loss and vertigo after tooth extraction is an otologic emergency and early evaluation and treatment are effective. HBO2, although employed beyond the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society's recommended initial 14 days of symptom onset, very was effective for this particular case.

[Diseases of the peripheral vestibular system: contribution of ENT medical diagnostics and therapy]

The most common types of vertigo caused by diseases of the peripheral vestibular system are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease and vestibular neuritis. A thorough examination of the medical history and clinical examination are usually sufficient for the differential diagnostics. Treatment includes differentiated repositioning maneuvers, medicinal treatment and physiotherapy.

[Long-term efficacy of triple semicircular canal occlusion in the treatment of intractable Meniere's disease]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the long-term efficacy and safety of triple semicircular canal occlusion (TSCO) in the treatment of intractable Meniere's disease (MD) so as to provide an alternative surgical procedure for treating this disorder.

METHODS

Data from Forty-nine patients, who were referred to our hospital and diagnosed with unilateral MD strictly meeting the criteria issued by Chinese Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Committee (2006) from Dec. 2010 to Jul. 2012, were retrospectively analyzed in this work. Forty-nine patients, in whom the standardized conservative treatment was given at least one year and frequent vertigo still occurred, received TSCO. Vertigo control and auditory function were measured. Pure tone audiometry, caloric test, and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) were performed for evaluation of audiological and vestibular function. Magnetic resonance hydrograph of inner ear was performed in patients received TSCO after 2 years for the observation of morphology of membranous labyrinth. Postoperative follow-up period was more than 2 years.

RESULTS

According to the preoperative staging of hearing, among these 49 patients, there were 2 cases in stage II (with an average hearing threshold of 25-40 dBHL), 40 in stage III (41-70 dBHL) and 7 in stage IV (over 70 dBHL). Vertigo was controlled effectively in all 49 cases in two-year follow-up, of which 40 cases (81.6%) were completely controlled and 9 cases (18.4%) were substantially controlled after surgery. The rate of hearing preservation was 69.4% and the rate of hearing loss was 30.6%. Post-operatively, all patients suffered from temporary vertigo and balance disorders. Vertigo was disappeared in all patients within 3-5 days, while averagely recovered after 13.5 days. Two years afer treatment, loss of semicircular canal function by caloric test was found in the operation side of all patients and no change in cVEMP test was noted. All patients had no facial paralysis, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and other complications. Magnetic resonance hydrograph of inner ear showed that endolymph fluid in the position of plugging had no water after 2-years of TSCO.

CONCLUSIONS

TSCO, which can reduce vertiginous symptoms effectively in patients with intractable MD in long-term follow-up, represents an effective and safe therapy for this disorder. TSCO is expected to be used as an alternative procedure for the treatment of MD in selected patients suffering from severe hearing loss or recurrence after endolymphatic sac surgery.

Postural stability in patients with decompression sickness evaluated by means of Quantitative Romberg testing

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to retrospectively evaluate the use of quantitative Romberg's testing on postural stability during the course of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy in patients presenting with decompression sickness (DCS).

METHODS

The Quantitative Romberg test was used to evaluate postural stability in 33 patients with DCS treated between May 2009 and August 2014. Postural stability was assessed before and after each session of HBO2 therapy. Patients were allocated into groups according to whether they presented with vertigo or not.

RESULTS

Significantly higher sway values obtained with the Quantitative Romberg test were observed in the group of DCS with vertigo relative to DCS without vertigo and healthy controls. A stepwise improvement in postural instability for DCS patients with vertigo was found following HBO2 therapy. After three treatments of HBO2, postural stability was found to be within the normal range of healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The Quantitative Romberg test offers the the clinician a fast, reliable and objective set of parametrical data to document postural instability in patients with either confirmed or suspected DCS.

[Efficacy of endolymphatic sac-mastoid shunt surgery for intractable Meniere's disease]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and mechanism of endolymphatic sac-mastoid shunt surgery for intractable Meniere's disease of different stages according to hearing level.

METHODS

Data from 240 patients diagnosed with unilateral MD strictly meeting the criteria issued by Chinese Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Committee (2006) from January 1983 to January 2012 were analyzed in this study. Endolymphatic sac-mastoid shunt surgery was performed in affected ear for each patient. The evaluation of therapy followed the guidelines issued by Chinese Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Committe. Vertigo control and auditory function were measured in two-year's follow-up.

RESULTS

According to the preoperative staging of hearing, among these 240 patients, there were 12 cases in stage I (with an average hearing threshold < 25 dB), 130 cases in stage II (with an average hearing threshold of 25-40 dB), 85 in stage III (41-70 dB) and 13 cases in stage IV(with an average hearing threshold > 70 dB). Overall control rate of vertigo was 77.9% (187/240) in two-year's follow-up, with total control 49.2% (118/240) and substantial control 28.7% (69/240). The hearing was improved in 25.0% (60/240) of cases, no change in 59.2% (142/240) of cases, and worse in 15.8% (38/240) of cases. According to different stages, vertigo control rate was 83.3% (10/12) in stage I, 82.3% (107/130) in stage II, 75.3% (64/85) in stage III and 46.2% (6/13) in stage IV. Vertigo control rate of stage IV patients was significantly lower than that of stage II and III patients (χ(2) = 9.318 and 4.692, P < 0.05), while vertigo control rate of stage I, II, III patients had no significant difference with each other (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Endolymphatic sac-mastoid shunt operation is an effective method in the treatment of intractable Meniere's disease, but the effect was poor in stage IV patients.

[Analyses of clinical features and efficacy of sudden deafness with vertigo and dizziness]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics and the effect of drug treatment for sudden hearing loss with vertigo or dizziness.

METHODS

In a prospective, randomized, single blinded randomized multicenter clinical study, patients with sudden deafness, ranging in age from 18 to 65 years old, with a duration less than 2 weeks, and with no any medical treatments were collected. In accordance with the hearing curve, those patients were divided into four types, i.e., low and intermediate frequency descent type; high frequency descent type; fall flat type; and total deafness type. Each type was treated by four different treatment options, according to the unified design of the random table, and randomly selected one of the options for treatment. The efficacy of the patients with sudden deafness with vertigo and dizziness was analyzed statistically after the follow-up for 4 weeks. SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

In August 2007 to October 2011, 33 hospitals in the country included 1 024 patients with sudden deafness in line with the inclusion criteria, of whom 296 (28.91%) were accompanied by vertigo/dizziness symptoms, 126 were males and 170 were females, with an average age of (41.2 ± 13.5) years old. types of the different audiometric curves of sudden deafness, the occurrence of complete deafness with vertigo/dizziness was the highest (44.93%), followed by flat down type (25.87%), high frequency descent type (21.28%) and low intermediate frequency descent type (18.54%). After the standard treatment, the vertigo and dizziness symptoms of the sudden deafness patients could disappear, and the hearing in each group was obviously improved. The hearing curative effect on patients accompanied by vertigo/dizziness of low frequency and intermediate frequency descent type was the best, and the total efficiency can reach up to 94.74%, with the cure rate of 68.42%; followed by flat type, in which the total effective rate was 80.76%, with the recovery rate of 22.12%; and the effects on patients in high frequency descent type and total deafness type effect were relatively poor, in which the total effective rates were 70.00% (recovery rate of 10.00%) and 65.32% (recovery rate of 5.65%), respectively. The total effective rate of patients with sudden deafness associated with halo had no statistical significance (P > 0.05), in comparison to that of patients without halo; but, the cure rate of patients with no vertigo/dizziness of total deafness and the high frequency decreased patients with sudden deafness was significantly higher than that of vertigo/dizziness patients, with a statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The patients with sudden deafness in each type have a certain proportion of vertigo/dizziness, especially the deaf type. The possibility of hearing complete recovery in patients with vertigo/dizziness was significantly lower than that without vertigo/dizziness.