Balance after stapedectomy: the measurement of spontaneous sway by posturography.
Sway was measured by static posturography in 25 patients undergoing stapedectomy, 16 first-side and nine second-side operations. Measurements were taken pre-operatively and at 1 week and 6 months after surgery, 25 age-matched controls were also tested. In both the first and second side groups, sway was greater at 1 week after surgery than pre-operatively when relying on vestibular function alone (P = 0.01 first-side, 0.05 second-side, 0.01 both sides taken together). By 6 months, sway measurements were no longer significantly different from pre-op or control values. Thus, it appears that there is a measurable increase in patients' sway following stapedectomy but this is well compensated by visual and proprioceptive information, and resolves fully with time. Patients undergoing a second side stapedectomy do not appear to fare worse than those undergoing first-side surgery.
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
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NC
Molony
J
J
Marais
D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery