title: Alcohol-dependent unilateral vestibular impairment persisting after a closed head injury.
abstract: A 20-year-old man suffered a closed head injury followed by symptoms of right-sided labyrinthine concussion with complete clinical recovery within 3 weeks. Episodic vertigo and ataxic gait occurred after the ingestion of small amounts of alcohol over the next 2 years. Electro-oculography revealed a right-sided peripheral type vestibular lesion, only after taking alcohol. This was interpreted as an alcohol-induced impairment of central compensation following an incomplete recovery from right-sided labyrinthine trauma.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thömke
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hopf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000293:injuries*