title: Novel method for recording vestibular evoked myogenic potential: minimally invasive recording on neck extensor muscles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) has been used to test vestibulocollic reflex. However, VEMP is not stable on elderly patients because of their weak muscular strength. In this study, we tried to record VEMP on median neck extensor muscles with weak muscular contraction
  
  
  METHODS
  We recorded VEMP from normal subjects and patients by novel and conventional methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one normal subjects and 56 patients with vertigo or hearing loss were tested in a seated or prone position without muscular tension. The different electrodes were placed on the median surface at the palpable bottom of the occipital bone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our response showed a clear negative peak at 13 ms on normal subjects, with reversed polarity compared with VEMP on the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This potential is defined as VEMP caused by the proper latencies, dependency of the strength on sound stimulation, and independence of hearing ability. In the cases of acoustic neurinoma, onset latencies were prolonged or nonexistent. The responses on neck extensor muscles could not be recorded on some elderly patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new method of recording VEMP is less invasive and suitable for elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakakura
authors.forename: Katsumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takayasu
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chikamatsu
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Furuya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods*