Noisy vestibular stimulation improves dynamic walking stability in bilateral vestibulopathy.

Noisy vestibular stimulation improves dynamic walking stability in bilateral vestibulopathy.

Neurology. 2016 May 6;

Authors: Wuehr M, Nusser E, Decker J, Krafczyk S, Straube A, Brandt T, Jahn K, Schniepp R

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of imperceptible levels of white noise galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) on dynamic walking stability in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP).
METHODS: Walking performance of 13 patients with confirmed BVP (mean age 50.1 ± 5.5 years) at slow, preferred, and fast speeds was examined during walking with zero-amplitude nGVS (sham trial) and nonzero-amplitude nGVS set to 80% of the individual cutaneous threshold for GVS (nGVS trial). Eight standard gait measures were analyzed: stride time, stride length, base of support, double support time percentage as well as the bilateral phase coordination index, and the coefficient of variation (CV) of stride time, stride length, and base of support.
RESULTS: Compared to the sham trial, nGVS improved stride time CV by 26.0% ± 8.4% (p < 0.041), stride length CV by 26.0% ± 7.7% (p < 0.029), base of support CV by 27.8% ± 2.9% (p < 0.037), and phase coordination index by 8.4% ± 8.8% (p < 0.013). The nGVS effects on walking performance were correlated with subjective ratings of walking balance (ρ = 0.79, p < 0.001). Effect of nGVS on walking stability was most pronounced during slow walking.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BVP, nGVS is effective in improving impaired gait performance, predominantly during slower walking speeds. It primarily targets the variability and bilateral coordination characteristics of the walking pattern, which are linked to dynamic walking stability. nGVS might present an effective treatment option to immediately improve walking performance and reduce the incidence of falls in patients with BVP.
CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that in patients with BVP, an imperceptible level of nGVS improves dynamic walking stability.

PMID: 27164706 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

from Hearing and Balance via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1XkYc2W
via IFTTT

Effect of double-door laminoplasty on atypical symptoms associated with cervical spondylotic myelopathy/radiculopathy.

Effect of double-door laminoplasty on atypical symptoms associated with cervical spondylotic myelopathy/radiculopathy.

BMC Surg. 2016;16(1):31

Authors: Sun Y, Muheremu A, Yan K, Yu J, Zheng S, Tian W

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Double-door laminoplasty is an effective method in treating patients with cervical spondylosis. Many patients with cervical spondylosis experience a set of atypical symptoms such as vertigo and tinnitus, and wish to know if the surgical treatment for cervical spondylosis can also alleviate those symptoms. The current research was carried out to investigate if atypical symptoms can be alleviated in patients who received laminoplasty for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.
METHODS: One hundred ninety patients who received laminoplasty to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy/radiculopathy in our center and complained about one or more of the atypical symptoms before the surgery were followed for a mean of 61.9 months (from 39 to 87 months) after the surgery. Severity scores were retrospectively collected by follow up outpatient visits or phone interviews. The data was calculated based on patient feedback on the frequency and severity of those symptoms before the surgery and at last follow up, and were compared by paired sample t-tests.
RESULTS: Most patients reported that the atypical symptoms such as vertigo (P <0.001), nausea (P <0.001), headache (P <0.001), tinnitus (P = 0.001), blur vision (P = 0.005), palpitation (P <0.001) and gastrointestinal discomfort (P = 0.001) were significantly alleviated at the last follow up; there was no significant change in the severity of hypomnesia (P = 0.675).
CONCLUSION: Double-door laminoplasty can significantly alleviate most of the atypical symptoms in patients with cervical spondylosis. Further research is needed to explore mechanisms underlying this extra benefit of laminoplasty.

PMID: 27160834 [PubMed - in process]

from Hearing and Balance via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1Ylvayw
via IFTTT

A nationwide study on enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct in Japan.

A nationwide study on enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct in Japan.

Auris Nasus Larynx. 2016 May 6;

Authors: Noguchi Y, Fukuda S, Fukushima K, Gyo K, Hara A, Nakashima T, Ogawa K, Okamoto M, Sato H, Usami SI, Yamasoba T, Yokoyama T, Kitamura K

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To document the clinical features and associated pure-tone audiometry data in patients with enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct (EVA), and to identify risk factors for fluctuating hearing loss (HL) and vertigo/dizziness in EVA patients.
METHODS: In this nationwide survey in Japan, a first survey sheet was mailed to 662 board-certified otolaryngology departments to identify the ones treating EVA patients. A second survey sheet, which contained solicited clinical information and the results of the hearing tests, was mailed to all facilities that reported treating EVA cases. We analyzed clinical information, including age at the time of the most recent evaluation, gender, EVA side, age at onset, initial symptoms, precipitating factors, and etiology from survey responses, and assessed 4-frequency (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000Hz) pure-tone average (PTA) from accompanying pure-tone audiometry data. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the possible risk factors for fluctuating HL and vertigo/dizziness.
RESULTS: In total, 513 hospitals (response rate, 77.5%) responded to the first survey, and 113 reported treating patients with EVA. Seventy-nine out of the 113 hospitals (response rate 69.9%) responded to the second survey, and the data of 380 EVA patients were registered and analyzed. Of the 380 patients, 221 (58.2%) were female, suggesting female preponderance. The patient age ranged from 0 to 73 years (mean, 16.7 years; median, 13 years; interquartile range, 6-24 years). EVA was bilateral in 91.1% of the patients (346/380). The most prevalent initial symptom was HL (341/380), followed by vertigo/dizziness/imbalance (34/380). Sudden HL occurred secondary to head trauma in 5.3% of the patients and upper respiratory infection in 5.0%. Pure-tone audiometry showed profound HL (PTA >91dB) in 316 (52.0%) of the 608 ears in the 304 patients tested, and asymmetric HL, defined as >10dB, in 147 (48.4%) of the 304 patients. The mean PTA was 83.7dB (median, 91.3dB; interquartile range, 71.3-103.8dB), and the severity in PTA did not correlate with age. Multivariate logistic regression identified age ≥10 years (compared to age of 0-9 years), bilateral HL (compared to unilateral HL/normal hearing), a history of head trauma, and Pendred syndrome (compared to the other EVA-associated disorders) as significant risk factors for fluctuating HL and/or vertigo/dizziness.
CONCLUSION: The present nationwide survey of 380 EVA patients provided a more precise description of the clinical features, including risk factors for fluctuating HL and vertigo/dizziness.

PMID: 27160786 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

from Hearing and Balance via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/21VQZXy
via IFTTT