Recovery from Unilateral Vestibular Nerve Section in Human Subjects Evaluated by Physiological, Psychological and Questionnaire Assessments

Abstract

Patients undergoing vestibular nerve section for vertigo or acoustic neuroma surgery were compared pre- and post-oper-atively and during long-term follow-up using a range of tests including: nystagmography, impulsive rotational testing of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), ability to estimate and reproduce imposed rotational displacements, validated questionnaires rating vertigo, imbalance, autonomic reactivity and somatisation, and clinical and self-assessment scales of overall outcome in terms of symptoms and disability. Correlations were found between rating scale assessments, questionnaire scores and estimates of self-rotation. Neither nystagmography nor VOR tests correlated with the presence or severity of vertigo or imbalance. Post-operatively, vertigo patients reported that they had received significant relief, although they had higher incidences of residual complaints of imbalance and vertigo than patients after acoustic neuroma surgery. Factors impeding rehabilitation in patients with vertigo are discussed.

Key Words:

• vertigo
• acoustic neuroma
• rating scale
• adaptation
• rehabilitation
• Meniere's disease
• nystagmography
• spatial orientation
• vestibulo-ocular reflex