The limits of stability in patients with unilateral vestibulopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the stability limits and region in patients with unilateral vestibulopathy according to the side of the lesion and determine if that imposes any bias. To analyze if the stability limits and region depend on the functional deficit as evaluated in the sensory organization test. METHODS: Forty patients with chronic dizziness and without any vertigo spell for least 6 months prior to testing. In all of them, a unilateral vestibulopathy was diagnosed clinically and at vestibular testing. A computerized dynamic posturography system was used to test for the ability of patients and controls to displace their center of pressure (COP) to the corresponding LOS. The area was calculated and compared to other data from vestibular tests. RESULTS: The area of stability among patients shows a reduction to 35-62% of the expected total. That reduction was not found to be dependent on age. CONCLUSION: There is a symmetric reduction in the limits of stability (LOS) in patients with unilateral vestibulopathy who suffer chronic instability. None of the areas measured were correlated with the composite score of the sensory organization test and, as such, must be considered as an adjunct measure to characterize the postural limitations in those patients.

Revisión sobre la aplicación de la realidad virtual en la rehabilitación vestibular? / Review on the application of virtual reality to vestibular rehabilitation

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVO: Las nuevas tecnologías nos conceden nuevas fórmulas para analizar y modificar la relación del sujeto con el medio. La realidad virtual sería su máxima expresión. Explicaremos los fundamentos básicos que se aplican en estas tecnologías, las cuales poseen muchos elementos en común con la organización de nuestro sentido del equilibrio. MÉTODO: Revisión narrativa. RESULTADOS: Expondremos las características técnicas y los mecanismos de compensación aplicados en los dispositivos de rehabilitación vestibular. DISCUSIÓN: Revisaremos algunos estudios que analizan las ventajas e inconvenientes de la realidad virtual frente a la terapia física convencional. CONCLUSIONES: Los sistemas de seguimiento ocular, postural o de giro cefálico aplicados a la realidad virtual, pueden emplearse en el desarrollo de dispositivos diagnósticos o de rehabilitación vestibular. Se necesitas más estudios que comparen su eficacia respecto a la terapia física tradicional

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: New technologies grant us new formulas to analyze and modify the subject's relationship with the environment. Virtual reality would be its maximum expression. We will explain the basic foundations that are applied in these technologies, which have many elements in common with the organization of our sense of balance. METHOD: Narrative review. RESULTS: We will present the technical characteristics and compensation mechanisms applied in vestibular rehabilitation devices. DISCUSSION: We will review some studies that analyze the advantages and disadvantages of virtual reality compared to conventional physical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The ocular, postural or head turn monitoring systems applied to virtual reality can be used in the development of diagnostic or vestibular rehabilitation devices. More studies are needed that compare their effectiveness with respect to traditional physical therapy

Cemento-ossifying fibroma of mandibular gingiva: single case report.

We report a case of a woman presenting a giant cementoossifying fibroma depending of the mandibular gingivae. The evolution of the process was 20 years. Cemento-ossifying fibroma is a relatively rare tumour classified between fibroosseous lesions. This lesion appears within the bone although in some occasions it involves the gingivae soft tissues, as the case we present. It is a slow-growing and well-defined tumorous lesion, because of this, it is considered as a benign lesion. The histologic findings alone may be similar to other pathologies such as osteoblastoma, low-grade osteosarcoma and particularly to fibrous dysplasia. An accurate diagnosis requires careful clinical, radiological and histological correlation in order to make an optimal treatment and an excellent outcome.