Isolated vestibular areflexia after blunt head trauma.
The sudden unilateral loss of vestibular function is a frequent cause of vertigo. This condition is called vestibular neuronitis or vestibular neuritis. Its cause remains unknown, but many authors consider it to be a sequel of vestibular viral infection. We report the history and clinical findings of 5 patients in whom a unilateral vestibular loss occurred after head trauma. None of these patients complained of hearing loss. In all cases, the vertigo gradually subsided over days or weeks. The follow-up showed the partial recovery of vestibular function in 2 cases, while vestibular areflexia persisted in 3. The clinical course and findings were similar in every respect to those in patients with classic idiopathic vestibular neuronitis.
Guyot
J P
JP
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
Liard
P
P
Thielen
K
K
Kos
I
I
D000328:Adult; D002150:Caloric Tests; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal; D020338:Vestibular Neuronitis / Q000209:etiology*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*