The Relationship Between Disorders of Bone Metabolism and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have reported an association between benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and bone mineral density or serum vitamin D levels. The aim of this review is to provide further clarification regarding the relationship between BPPV and calcium metabolism. DESIGN: PubMed and MEDLINE databases were systematically reviewed to identify all English language papers regarding the relationship between BPPV and the following terms: osteoporosis, osteopenia, bone mineral density, serum vitamin D levels, and bone metabolism. RESULTS: Of the 456 identified records, 28 studies were eligible for this review. Most were retrospective studies with inherent limitations and often conflicting results. While the literature is not conclusive, osteoporosis in patients of at least 50 years old appears to have an association with BPPV. Similarly, an association was observed between recurrent BPPV and vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSION: There is only weak evidence to support the relationship between BPPV and osteoporosis or low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Further prospective studies with more robust methodologies are needed to clarify the association between BPPV and disorders of bone metabolism.

Elevated ocular VEMP responses in the absence of a superior semicircular canal dehiscence.

BACKGROUND: Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) have an accepted role in the diagnosis of the superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) syndrome. The current impression is that ocular VEMPs (oVEMPs) are more sensitive than cervical VEMPs (cVEMPs) for detecting a SSCD and that oVEMP testing in response to air conducted sound provides an excellent screening test without risk of radiation exposure from computerized tomography (CT). AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To report on patients with elevated oVEMP amplitudes but without evidence for a SSCD on multiplanar CT imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all patients referred for vestibular function testing to our department. Patients with oVEMP peak-to-peak amplitudes ≥17 µν without evidence for a SSCD on imaging were evaluated. RESULTS: 26 patients had oVEMP peak-to-peak amplitudes ≥17 µν with no evidence of a SSCD on imaging. The most common diagnosis was Meniere's disease in those identified. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: oVEMPs can provide false positive results for diagnosis of a SSCD and an elevated oVEMP amplitude in itself is insufficient for diagnosis of a SSCD.

Effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation therapy in patients with idiopathic Cerebellar Ataxia with Bilateral Vestibulopathy (iCABV).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) in the management of patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia with bilateral vestibulopathy (iCABV). BACKGROUND: iCABV is a hindbrain degenerative disorder with impairment of both central and peripheral vestibular pathways. There is combined failure of four compensatory eye movement systems including the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), optokinetic reflex, smooth pursuit and the visually enhanced vestibulo-ocular reflex (VVOR). Phenotypic presentation includes postural and gait instability, oscillopsia and dizziness with active head movement. The benefit of VRT in iCABV patients has not been established. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on a cohort of twelve patients diagnosed with iCABV in a multidisciplinary neuro-otology clinic. All participated in VRT and completed their suggested course of VRT. The following clinical measures were assessed before starting and after finishing VRT: 1) Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), 2) Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, 3) Catastrophization scale, 4) Positive Affective Negative Affective Score (PANAS), 5) Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and 6) Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance (mCTSIB). The number of falls historically was recorded in addition to gait speed (ft./sec). RESULTS: Following VRT, patients were found to have improved balance on mCTSIB (condition 4 : 7 vs 18 seconds, P = 0.04) and a better postural stability with a reduced number of falls (p = 0.01). No statistically significant improvement was seen in the DHI, ABC, Catastrophization scale, DGI, PANAS and gait speed (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: iCABV patients who underwent VRT were found to have a better postural stability and reduced risk of falls. VRT was not found to significantly improve patients' overall subjective perception of their symptoms or their psychological status.

Post-traumatic peripheral vestibular disorders (excluding positional vertigo) in workers following head injury.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo has typically been reported to be the most common cause of post-traumatic dizziness. There is however paucity in the literature about other peripheral vestibular disorders post-head injury. This article provides an overview of other causes of non-positional dizziness post-head trauma from our large institutional experience. The UHN WSIB Neurotology database (n = 4291) between 1998 and 2018 was retrospectively studied for those head-injured workers presenting with non-positional peripheral vestibular disorders. All subjects had a detailed neurotological history and examination and vestibular testing including video nystagmography, video head impulse testing (or a magnetic scleral search coil study), vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials, and audiometry. Imaging studies included routine brain and high-resolution temporal bone CT scans and/or brain MRI. Based on a database of 4291 head-injured workers with dizziness, 244 were diagnosed with non-positional peripheral vertigo. Recurrent vestibulopathy (RV) was the most common cause of non-positional post-traumatic vertigo. The incidence of Meniere's disease in the post-traumatic setting did not appear greater than found in the general population. The clinical spectrum pertaining to recurrent vestibulopathy, Meniere's disease, delayed endolymphatic hydrops, drop attacks, superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome, and uncompensated peripheral vestibular loss are discussed.

Normative Data for Cortical Evoked Response Audiometry of a Heterogeneous Indian Population and Its Comparison with Behavioral Audiometry.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to establish normative values of cortical evoked response audiometry (CERA) in a heterogeneous Indian population and correlate CERA threshold with pure tone audiometric (PTA) threshold values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on 31 volunteers (n = 62) who had no otological or neurological complaints. Two study groups were formed; Group 1 with individuals from 20 to 40 years (mean age of 29.1 years) and Group 2 with individuals from 41 to 60 years (mean age of 46.2 years). The latencies and amplitudes of the waves of P1, N1, and P2 at threshold and 70 dBnHL were measured. RESULTS: Twenty-nine participants (94% of the ears) had CERA threshold within 20 dB of true behavioral threshold with only 6% having a difference of >20 dB with their PTA thresholds. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) at 70 dB in amplitudes for waves P1, N1, and P2 at 2 kHz and additionally at 1 kHz for N1 between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Normative values for CERA in a heterogeneous Indian population at 70 dB nHL using tone burst stimulus was found to have an average latency of 46.5, 90.1, and 155.5 ms for P1, N1, and P2, respectively. The average amplitude of P1 at 70 dB nHL was 4.3 µV, N1, was 6.5 µV and P2 was 3.2 µV. Hearing threshold obtained with CERA gave a good indication of the actual behavioral hearing threshold of the normal controls, and the age of an individual had a significant effect on the values obtained during CERA testing with N1 being significantly larger at 1 kHz and 2 kHz in older adults when compared to young adults.

Labyrinthine Fistulae in Squamosal Type of Chronic Otitis Media: Therapeutic Outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Labyrinthine fistulae (LF) are the common complications of chronic otitis media (COM) of squamosal variety. The final therapeutic outcome of this condition is to preserve the cochlear and vestibular functions. Herein, we present the data of the cases managed at our institute with respect to their presenting complaints, adopted therapeutic approaches and outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on all cases with COM squamosal type in adult patients. A total of 275 patients were reviewed, out of whom 30 cases had LF. The results were mainly studied with respect to the postoperative improvement of hearing and vertigo. RESULTS: The incidence rate of LF in the present study was obtained at 10.9%. Only 50% of the cases had the symptoms of vertigo. Furthermore, positive fistula test was elicited in 3.3% of the cases. All cases undergoing preoperative imaging were diagnosed successfully. In addition, 42.85% of the cases had profound hearing loss preoperatively, which sustained after the operation. However, 47.61% of the cases showed an improvement of at least ≥ 10 dB in the air-bone gap. Out of the 15 LF cases with vertigo as the main complaint, only 11 cases referred for follow-up. In this regard, 63.63% of the cases had no postoperative vertigo symptoms. CONCLUSION: Patients with LF may not have complaints of vertigo and a positive fistula sign upon admission. Pre-operative imaging facilitates the diagnosis of this condition. The removal of the matrix under constant irrigation, followed by repair with bone wax and/or autologous tissue, is sufficient to preserve the cochlear and vestibular symptoms postoperatively.

Congenital Cholesteatoma in Adults-Interesting Presentations and Management.

To report a series of adult patients diagnosed with congenital cholesteatoma (CC) with respect to symptoms, different varieties of presentation, surgical findings and approach used, complications and the postoperative results. A retrospective chart review of adult cases of CC who were treated in the period from January 2014-2017 was carried out in a tertiary care center. Levenson's criteria were used for diagnosis. Diagnosis was confirmed by imaging and intraoperatively. Postoperative results and complications were also analyzed. Six adult cases of CC were studied with a mean follow up of 10 months. Interesting presentations included otitis media with effusion, non-resolving facial nerve palsy, post aural discharge and meningitis. It included 3 cases of petrous apex cholesteatoma, 2 patients with cholesteatoma involving both the middle ear and mastoid and 1 patient with mastoid cholesteatoma. The operative procedures included canal wall up mastoidectomy (1 patient), atticotomy (1 patient), canal wall down mastoidectomy (1 patient), translabyrinthine and transotic excision of mass with blind sac closure (2 patients) and partial labyrinthectomy (1 patient). Complications encountered during surgery were cerebrospinal fluid leak and worsening of hearing in 2 patients and 1 patient respectively. CC can have variety of interesting presentations in adult population and they may or may not have the classical white mass behind the tympanic membrane. Appropriate individualized surgical planning and intervention gives good results.