Research in Vestibular Science

Review

Dizziness after Traumatic Brain Injury: Neurological Aspects: Young Seo Kim, Seon Jae Im, Hak Seung Lee; Res Vestib Sci. 2019;18(3):59-63. Published online September 15, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.21790/rvs.2019.18.3.59

Abstract PDF: Vertigo, dizziness, and disequilibrium are common symptoms following concussion or traumatic brain injury. Dizziness and vertigo may be the result of trauma to the peripheral vestibular system or the central nervous system, or, in some cases, may be due to anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder; these mechanisms are not mutually exclusive. While most peripheral vestibular disorders can be identified by testing and examination, those without inner ear causes that have persisting complaints of dizziness and motion sickness are more difficult to understand and to manage. Some of these patients exhibit features compatible with vestibular migraine and may be treated successfully with migraine preventative medications. This paper reviews the neurological causes of persisting dizziness, the possible mechanisms, and the pathophysiology, as a framework for patient management and for future research.

Case Report

Spontaneous Recovery of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Gain after Bilateral Complete Vestibular Loss Following Head Injury: Ga Young Park, Eun Wook Chung, Jong Sei Kim, Won Ho Chung; Res Vestib Sci. 2012;11(4):146-153.

Abstract: Dizziness is a frequent complication of head injury and objective evidence of vestibular dysfunction in the dizzy patient following head injury has been reported in literatures. However, there is no report about bilateral spontaneous recovery of caloric response after complete loss of bilateral vestibular function following head injury. A 27-year-old male patient who presented with continuous dizziness and disequilibrium following head injury was diagnosed as diffuse axonal injury after brain magnetic resonance image and bilateral complete loss of vestibular function after caloric and rotary chair test. He showed gradual improvement of dizziness, vestibulo-ocular reflex gain and left caloric response at 2 months after vestibular exercise. After another 4 months, his caloric function was fully recovered, and dizziness disappeared at 16 months after the onset of dizziness. We present this case with reviews of previous literatures about dizziness following head injury and diffuse axonal injury.

Search