[Approach to patients with vertigo]. / Enfoque del paciente con vértigo.

Vertigo is defined as an abnormal sensation of body motion or of its surrounding objects. It is a common chief complaint in emergency departments comprising 2 to 3% of these consultations worldwide. Vertigo is classified as peripheral or central, according to its origin, and can also be occasionally mixed, the most common cause of peripheral involvement being benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The initial findings on clinical evaluation of patients are the clues for making a correct diagnosis. The differentiation between central and peripheral vertigo can be optimized by analysing nystagmus, by using the skew test and the head impulse test (HINTS), as also by performing the appropriate tests to evaluate the integrity of the vestibular-cerebellar pathway. In addition, tonal threshold audiometry could raise the diagnostic sensibility from 71 to 89% on initial approach. Appropriate diagnosis is the principal key for managing this clinical condition.

Enfoque del paciente con vértigo / Approach to patients with vertigo

El vértigo es definido como la sensación de movimiento ilusorio del cuerpo o de los objetos que le rodean. Es una de las causas más comunes de consulta en los departamentos de emergencia, y 2 a 3% de la población mundial consulta anualmente por este síntoma. De acuerdo al compromiso vestibular en el oído interno o en el sistema nervioso central o ambos, puede clasificarse en vértigo periférico, central o de origen mixto, siendo la principal causa del periférico el vértigo posicional paroxístico benigno. La valoración semiológica y anamnesis es fundamental para el diagnóstico. En el examen físico inicial, la diferenciación de un vértigo de origen central de otro de origen periférico, puede realizarse mediante el análisis del nistagmo, la valoración del impulso cefálico y la desviación ocular, que se integran en un sistema denominado HINTS, por sus siglas en inglés (Head Impulse, Nystamus type, Test of Skew), y por la realización de pruebas que evalúen también la vía vestíbulo-cerebelosa. Además, la realización de una audiometría tonal, aumentaría la sensibilidad diagnóstica de 71 a 89% en la evaluación inicial. El diagnóstico apropiado es la base para el tratamiento y control de esta condición clínica en el mediano y largo plazo.

Vertigo is defined as an abnormal sensation of body motion or of its surrounding objects. It is a common chief complaint in emergency departments comprising 2 to 3% of these consultations worldwide. Vertigo is classified as peripheral or central, according to its origin, and can also be occasionally mixed, the most common cause of peripheral involvement being benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The initial findings on clinical evaluation of patients are the clues for making a correct diagnosis. The differentiation between central and peripheral vertigo can be optimized by analysing nystagmus, by using the skew test and the head impulse test (HINTS), as also by performing the appropriate tests to evaluate the integrity of the vestibular-cerebellar pathway. In addition, tonal threshold audiometry could raise the diagnostic sensibility from 71 to 89% on initial approach. Appropriate diagnosis is the principal key for managing this clinical condition.

Resultados tras la rehabilitación vestibular y terapia Wii ® en pacientes con hipofunción vestibular unilateral crónica / Outcomes after vestibular rehabilitation and Wii ® therapy in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction

Introducción y objetivos: La rehabilitación vestibular está destinada a maximizar la compensación central de la enfermedad vestibular periférica. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar las diferencias de la percepción de discapacidad, el riesgo de caídas y la estabilidad de la mirada antes y después de un tratamiento de rehabilitación vestibular con el uso complementario de terapia Wii® en pacientes con diagnóstico de hipofunción vestibular unilateral crónica. Materiales y métodos: Se revisaron registros de pacientes entre abril de 2009 y mayo de 2011 del área de rehabilitación vestibular de un hospital universitario. Las variables estudiadas fueron el Dizziness Handicap Inventory, el índice dinámico de la marcha y la agudeza visual dinámica. Todos los sujetos usaron Wii® como complemento. Resultados: Sesenta y nueve casos (41 mujeres y 28 hombres). La mediana de edad fue 64 años. La mediana de Dizziness Handicap Inventory inicial fue de 40 puntos (rango 0-84, percentil 25-75 = 20-59) y final de 24 (rango 0-76, percentil 25-75 = 10-40) p < 0,0001. La mediana del índice dinámico de la marcha inicial fue 21 puntos (rango 8-24, percentil 25-75 = 17,5-23) y final de 23 (rango 12-24, percentil 25-75 = 21-23) p < 0,0001. La mediana de la agudeza visual dinámica inicial fue 2 (rango 0-6, percentil 25-75 = 1-4) y final de 1 (rango 0-3, percentil 25-75 = 0-2) p < 0,0001. Conclusión: Se observó una disminución de los valores del Dizziness Handicap Inventory, un aumento de los valores del índice dinámico de la marcha y una mejoría en la agudeza visual dinámica; todas estas variaciones fueron estadísticamente significativas (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is an exercise-based programme designed to promote central nervous system compensation for inner ear deficit. The objective of the present study was to analyse the differences in the perception of handicap, the risk of falls, and gaze stability in patients diagnosed with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction before and after vestibular rehabilitation treatment with complementary Wii® therapy. Materials and methods: A review was performed on the clinical histories of patients in the vestibular rehabilitation area of a university hospital between April 2009 and May 2011. The variables studied were the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, the Dynamic Gait Index and dynamic visual acuity. All subjects received complementary Wii® therapy. Results: There were 69 cases (41 woman and 28 men), with a median age of 64 years. The initial median Dizziness Handicap Inventory score was 40 points (range 0-84, percentile 25-75 = 20-59) and the final, 24 points (range 0-76, percentile 25-75 = 10.40), P < .0001. The initial median for the Dynamic Gait Index score was 21 points (range 8-24, percentile 25-75 = 17.5-2.3) and the final, 23 (range 12-24, percentile 25-75 = 21-23), P < .0001. The initial median for dynamic visual acuity was 2 (range 0-6, percentile 25-75 = 1-4) and the final, 1 (range 0-3, percentile 25-75 = 0-2), P < .0001. Conclusion: A reduction was observed in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory Values. Values for the Dynamic Gait Index increased and dynamic visual acuity improved. All these variations were statistically significant (AU)

Outcomes after vestibular rehabilitation and Wii® therapy in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is an exercise-based programme designed to promote central nervous system compensation for inner ear deficit. The objective of the present study was to analyse the differences in the perception of handicap, the risk of falls, and gaze stability in patients diagnosed with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction before and after vestibular rehabilitation treatment with complementary Wii® therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review was performed on the clinical histories of patients in the vestibular rehabilitation area of a university hospital between April 2009 and May 2011. The variables studied were the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, the Dynamic Gait Index and dynamic visual acuity. All subjects received complementary Wii® therapy. RESULTS: There were 69 cases (41 woman and 28 men), with a median age of 64 years. The initial median Dizziness Handicap Inventory score was 40 points (range 0-84, percentile 25-75=20-59) and the final, 24 points (range 0-76, percentile 25-75=10.40), P<.0001. The initial median for the Dynamic Gait Index score was 21 points (range 8-24, percentile 25-75=17.5-2.3) and the final, 23 (range 12-24, percentile 25-75=21-23), P<.0001. The initial median for dynamic visual acuity was 2 (range 0-6, percentile 25-75=1-4) and the final, 1 (range 0-3, percentile 25-75=0-2), P<.0001. CONCLUSION: A reduction was observed in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory Values. Values for the Dynamic Gait Index increased and dynamic visual acuity improved. All these variations were statistically significant.