title: Electronic baropodometry in patients affected by ocular torticollis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, by means of electronic baropodometry (EB), the postural findings in patients affected by ocular torticollis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Posturographic analysis (length of the sway path, sway area, and mean velocity) was made in 54 patients with IV palsy, Duane Syndrome, or rectus superior palsy (group A) and compared with a control group of 45 healthy subjects (group B). The test was performed with both eyes open, then both closed, then with the affected eye open, and finally with the healthy eye open.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With both eyes open or closed, the length of the sway path, the sway area, and mean velocity were significantly increased in group A compared with group B (P<0.0001). When the open eye was the one with the muscular paresis, the length of the sway path was significantly increased as compared with the healthy eye (P<0.0001), and the sway area was increased too (P<0.029). No statistical differences were observed mean velocity according to which eye was open (P=NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EB is a useful instrument for studying secondary postural anomalies in patients affected by OT.
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. mariobellizzi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellizzi
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellizzi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Megna
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Procoli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011434:Proprioception; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013285:Strabismus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014103:Torticollis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult