An Analysis on the Vestibular Function Test Findings of Head Trauma Patients with Dizziness

Park, Hyun Min; Chung, Sang Yong; Rhee, Chung Ku

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of head trauma is increasing, with vertigo or dysequilibrium being the major disability when returning to normal activities. However, the lack of understanding of and appropriate diagnostic methods for dizziness inhibits effective treatment and rehabilitation. We identified the vestibular status of the head trauma patients complaining of dizziness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed electronystagmography battery, rotational chair test and posturography on 79 patients who previously had had head trauma. The patients were then divided according to the five types of head trauma. RESULT: The results of the vestibular function tests(VFT) of the 79 patients were analyzed to give five distinct types: 23 central types(29.1%), 21 peripheral types(26.6%), 5 mixed types(6.3%), 14 non-localizing types(17.7%), and 16 normal types(20.3%). The most common VFT finding of the intracranial lesion group was the central type(70.6%), whereas that of the temporal bone fracture group was the peripheral type(45%). The combined lesion group did not show any single predominant VFT finding. The normal type(33.3%) was the most common fingding in the inapparent head trauma group.
CONCLUSION
Although there is some tendency that the vestibular function status of head trauma patients corresponds to the clinical presentations, it did not coincide with many of the patients in this study. This means that the vestibular function tests should be thoroughly performed in head trauma patients complaining of dizziness, so that the patients may be evaluated more accurately and treated better.