Approach to cervicogenic dizziness: a comprehensive review of its aetiopathology and management.

PURPOSE: Though there is abundant literature on cervicogenic dizziness with at least half a dozen of review articles, the condition remains to be enigmatic for clinicians dealing with the dizzy patients. However, most of these studies have studied the cervicogenic dizziness in general without separating the constitute conditions. Since the aetiopathological mechanism of dizziness varies between these cervicogenic causes, one cannot rely on the universal conclusions of these studies unless the constitute conditions of cervicogenic dizziness are separated and contrasted against each other. METHODS: This narrative review of recent literature revisits the pathophysiology and the management guidelines of various conditions causing the cervicogenic dizziness, with an objective to formulate a practical algorithm that could be of clinical utility. The structured discussion on each of the causes of the cervicogenic dizziness not only enhances the readers' understanding of the topic in depth but also enables further research by identifying the potential areas of interest and the missing links. RESULTS: Certain peculiar features of each condition have been discussed with an emphasis on the recent experimental and clinical studies. A simple aetiopathological classification and a sensible management algorithm have been proposed by the author, to enable the identification of the most appropriate underlying cause for the cervicogenic dizziness in any given case. However, further clinical studies are required to validate this algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: So far, no single clinical study, either epidemiological or interventional, has incorporated and isolated all the constitute conditions of cervicogenic dizziness. There is a need for such studies in the future to validate either the reliability of a clinical test or the efficacy of an intervention in cervicogenic dizziness.

[Vertigo/dizziness and syncope from a neurological perspective]. / Schwindel und Synkope aus Sicht des Neurologen.

Vertigo/dizziness and syncope are among the most frequent clinical entities encountered in neurology. In patients with presumed syncope, it is important to distinguish it from neurological and psychiatric diseases causing a transient loss of consciousness due to another etiology. Moreover, central nervous disorders of autonomic blood pressure regulation as well as affections of the peripheral autonomic nerves can be responsible for the onset of real syncope. This is particularly relevant in recurrent syncope. Vertigo occurs in the context of temporary disorders, relatively harmless diseases associated with chronic impairment, as well as in acute life-threatening states. Patient history and clinical examination play an important role in classifying these symptoms. It is of crucial importance in this context, e.g., to establish whether the patient is experiencing an initial manifestation or whether such episodes have been known to occur recurrently over a longer period of time, as well as how long the episodes last. Clinical investigations include a differential examination of the oculomotor system with particular regard to nystagmus. The present article outlines the main underlying neurological diseases associated with syncope and vertigo, their relevant differential diagnoses as well as practical approaches to their treatment.

Cross-cultural adaptation and measurement properties of the Arabic version of the Fall Efficacy Scale International.

OBJECTIVE: To translate the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) into Arabic according to the World Health Organization`s (WHO) criteria and to evaluate the concurrent validity of the FES-I in persons living with balance and vestibular disorders. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 43 persons with balance and vestibular disorders presenting to an outpatient dizziness center at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between June 2012 and May 2013. All participants completed the Arabic version of the FES-I and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) during their assessment with the clinical audiologist. In addition, subjects completed the Dynamic Gait Index 4-item (DGI-4) gait test. An additional 55 control participants also completed the Arabic FES-I, the DGI-4, and the Arabic DHI. RESULTS: Forty-three participants with vestibular disorders (36 females, 7 males) with a mean age of 32 years (standard deviation (SD) 10 years, range 18-56 years) and 55 control participants (27 females, 28 males) with a mean age of 33, (SD-12), and age range of 18-78 participated. The correlation between the Arabic FES-I and the Arabic DHI was 0.75 in patients and 0.77 in control participants. The correlation between the Arabic FES-I and the DGI-4 was r=-0.30 (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The Arabic FES-I has established concurrent validity and may be helpful for measuring an individual`s concern of falling in people with vestibular and balance disorders.

[Traffic medicine expert opinions in otorhinolaryngology: current aspects]. / Verkehrsmedizinische Begutachtung in der HNO-Heilkunde : Aktuelle Aspekte.

According to German law granting of driving licenses depends on the proof of an adequate driving capability. The corresponding guidelines are at present in the process of being revised. At the moment bilateral deafness and high-grade hearing loss (> or = 60% in pure tone audiometry) are not exclusion criteria for driving licenses grades A, B and C, while driving licenses grade D and licenses for public transport are generally excluded. In the forthcoming revised edition of the guidelines it has been suggested that the latter group will also not be excluded. The regulations concerning dizziness are wide-sweeping at the moment as no driving license will be granted if dizziness is present but will be more specific in the next issue. In particular a division will be made between single axle and two axle vehicles. An expert assessment about driving suitability can only be made by a certified specialist with qualifications in traffic medicine.

[The 'dizziness handicap inventory': initial psychometric evaluation of the German version]. / Das "Dizziness Handicap Inventory": Erste psychometrische Kennwerte einer Deutschen Version.

BACKGROUND: Dizziness has a clear impact on quality of life of patients. Standardized instruments such as the "Dizziness Handicap Inventory" (DHI) help clinicians assess this impact systematically. The purpose of this study was to analyse the psychometric quality of a German version of the DHI. METHODS: One hundred and five patients with dizziness as their primary complaint have completed the DHI and undergone vestibular examination. The structure of the DHI was determined with a factor analysis, a principal component analysis with a Varimax rotation. To evaluate the reliability, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was estimated. RESULTS: A three-factor solution was extracted. The factors obtained from the German version of the DHI related to (1) activity and participation limitations (2) emotional problems and (3) motion sensitivity in everyday life of patients. Overall, there was a close correspondence of the factors of the German and the original version. The correlation analysis indicated a close relationship between the DHI-scores and the frequency of dizziness attacks. CONCLUSION: The German version of the DHI exhibited a multidimensional structure and good psychometric quality to assess the impact of dizziness in every day life.

Measurement properties of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory by cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.

BACKGROUND: The impact of dizziness on quality of life is often assessed by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), which is used as a discriminate and evaluative measure. The aim of the present study was to examine reliability and validity of a translated Norwegian version (DHI-N), also examining responsiveness to important change in the construct being measured. METHODS: Two samples (n = 92 and n = 27) included participants with dizziness of mainly vestibular origin. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the factor structure (exploratory factor analysis), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), concurrent validity (Pearson's product moment correlation r), and discriminate ability (ROC curve analysis). Longitudinal designs were used to examine test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) statistics, smallest detectable difference (SDD)), and responsiveness (Pearson's product moment correlation, ROC curve analysis; area under the ROC curve (AUC), and minimally important change (MIC)). The DHI scores range from 0 to 100. RESULTS: Factor analysis revealed a different factor structure than the original DHI, resulting in dismissal of subscale scores in the DHI-N. Acceptable internal consistency was found for the total scale (alpha = 0.95). Concurrent correlations between the DHI-N and other related measures were moderate to high, highest with Vertigo Symptom Scale-short form-Norwegian version (r = 0.69), and lowest with preferred gait (r = - 0.36). The DHI-N demonstrated excellent ability to discriminate between participants with and without 'disability', AUC being 0.89 and best cut-off point = 29 points. Satisfactory test-retest reliability was demonstrated, and the change for an individual should be >/= 20 DHI-N points to exceed measurement error (SDD). Correlations between change scores of DHI-N and other self-report measures of functional health and symptoms were high (r = 0.50 - 0.57). Responsiveness of the DHI-N was excellent, AUC = 0.83, discriminating between self-perceived 'improved' versus 'unchanged' participants. The MIC was identified as 11 DHI-N points. CONCLUSIONS: The DHI-N total scale demonstrated satisfactory measurement properties. This is the first study that has addressed and demonstrated responsiveness to important change of the DHI, and provided values of SDD and MIC to help interpret change scores.

[Dizziness in general practice]. / Syndromes vertigineux en pratique ambulatoire.

The symptoms of vertigo are frequent complaints. With the anamnestic features and the quite long and tiresome clinical examination alone, the general practitioner should make the difference between a benign peripheral and a potentially fatal central pathology. A good knowledge of the anamnestic and clinical particularities and the diagnostic manoeuvres of the main types of vertigo allows in about two thirds of the cases to distinguish their origin. If a central origin is suspected or if the etiology is uncertain, the patient should be referred to a neurologist for further examination and radiological investigations.

Assessment and treatment of dizziness and vertigo.

Dizziness is a common patient complaint with multiple etiologies. Many causes are benign, but NPs should consider red flags for serious differential diagnoses. A systematic patient history and physical exam are crucial to accurately diagnosing conditions related to dizziness. This article reviews common etiologies of dizziness and vertigo, assessment techniques, and treatment options.

Hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo: Diagnostic criteria.

This paper presents the diagnostic criteria for hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo to be included in the International Classification of Vestibular Disorders (ICVD). The aim of defining diagnostic criteria of hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo is to help clinicians to understand the terminology related to orthostatic dizziness/vertigo and to distinguish orthostatic dizziness/vertigo due to global brain hypoperfusion from that caused by other etiologies. Diagnosis of hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo requires: A) five or more episodes of dizziness, unsteadiness or vertigo triggered by arising or present during upright position, which subsides by sitting or lying down; B) orthostatic hypotension, postural tachycardia syndrome or syncope documented on standing or during head-up tilt test; and C) not better accounted for by another disease or disorder. Probable hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo is defined as follows: A) five or more episodes of dizziness, unsteadiness or vertigo triggered by arising or present during upright position, which subsides by sitting or lying down; B) at least one of the following accompanying symptoms: generalized weakness/tiredness, difficulty in thinking/concentrating, blurred vision, and tachycardia/palpitations; and C) not better accounted for by another disease or disorder. These diagnostic criteria have been derived by expert consensus from an extensive review of 90 years of research on hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo, postural hypotension or tachycardia, and autonomic dizziness. Measurements of orthostatic blood pressure and heart rate are important for the screening and documentation of orthostatic hypotension or postural tachycardia syndrome to establish the diagnosis of hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo.

Validation of the German version of the Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS) in patients with organic or somatoform dizziness and healthy controls.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to validate the German version of the Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS) and to determine its ability to differentiate the type, frequency, and severity of balance disorders. The scale (34 items) was designed by Yardley and coworkers and has been already validated in its English and Spanish versions. METHODS: 98 patients with organic vertigo syndromes, 90 patients with somatoform (psychogenic) dizziness and 56 healthy controls were evaluated with the VSS and additional standardized questionnaires regarding distress (SCL-90R), quality of life (SF-36), anxiety and depression (HADS). In order to differentiate organic from somatoform dizziness all patients underwent detailed clinical neurological and vestibular neurophysiological testing. RESULTS: The two identified subscales 'vertigo and related symptoms' (VER) and 'somatic anxiety and autonomic arousal' (AA) had good internal consistencies (Cronbach's alpha: VER 0.79; AA 0.89). Test-retest correlations were r = 0.75 for VER and r = 0.75 for AA. VER could discriminate well between dizziness patients and healthy controls. AA discriminated moderately between somatoform and organic dizziness. We found close relations between the AA scale and different measures of emotional distress. Correlations between VER and measures of emotional distress were weaker. CONCLUSION: The German version of the VSS has good reliability and validity in the detection of different vertigo syndromes. Measurement of anxiety symptoms can be helpful to identify patients with somatoform dizziness.

[Chronic dizziness in elderly people: its clinical characteristics and magneto-encephalographic findings].

Many elderly people complain dizziness which may continue occasionally for months or years. According to epidemiological studies, 25-29% of subjects with more than 60 years of age have the experience of dizziness. Dizziness occurs most commonly during head positional changes or walking. Clinical studies have indicated that causes of dizziness are nonspecific and multi-factorial; cerebrovascular diseases, cervical spondylosis, depressive state, poor vision, orthostatic hypotension, whiplash injury, or low cerebrospinal fluid syndrome may play a role in the development of dizziness. Patients with dizziness commonly have neck/shoulder pain, insomnia, left-right imbalance of visual acuity, scoliosis, white matter lesions on head MRI. Little, however, has yet been known as to how these symptoms and radiological findings are related to mechanisms of dizziness. During the last several years, we performed cerebral functional studies using auditory-evoked magneto-encephalography (MEG) in elderly people with chronic dizziness. Two types of functional abnormalities were found in dizziness patients. One is a rotational abnormality of MEG signals at the temporal cortex (Type A) which can be detected by current arrow mapping analysis. This abnormality is similar to that detected by non-evoked MEG in temporal lobe epilepsy patients. In patients with Type A abnormality, administration of anticonvulsants brought about dramatic improvement of dizziness in association with disappearance of rotational abnormalities. The other is abnormal prolongation of interhemispheric neural conduction time (INCT) between the left and right temporal cortices (Type B) which can be estimated from the difference of left and right N100 m peak latencies. The INCT was found to be prolonged correlating with the grade of white matter lesions on MRI. The INCT also seems to be prolonged by lack of sleep. Patients with Type B abnormality commonly have the asymmetry of body, such as left-right imbalance of visual acuity, left-right neck pain, or remarkable scoliosis, in association with insomnia and/or depressive state. According to the study of Penfield, dizziness or vertigo is manifested by stimulation of upper temporal cortex and lower parietal cortex. Mechanisms of dizziness can be hypothecated on the basis of MEG findings as follows: Presumably, there are head-position recognizing (HPR) centers in the left and right cerebral hemispheres. The HPR centers may correspond to the vestibular cortex or the combined system of vestibular, visual and somatosensory cortices. The HPR centers in two hemispheres are receiving head-position signals from vestibular, visual and somatosensory corices and are readjusting the dissociation of information which may exist between each other through rapid interhemispheric neural conduction. In patients with Type A abnormality, dizziness may be caused by abnormal neuronal excitements in left or right HPR center. In patients with Type B abnormalities, dizziness may be caused by the combined factors, one the abnormal prolongation of INCT between left and right HPR centers and the other the large dissociation of head position signals between the left and right HPR centers due to the body asymmetry, such as scoliosis or left-right neck pain imbalance.

Imbalance: Objective measures versus subjective self-report in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Dizziness and imbalance are very common complaints in clinical practice. One of the challenges is to evaluate the 'real' risk of falls. Two tools are available: the patient's self-report and the measure of the patient's balance. We evaluated the relationship between these methods using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and measures of balance while visual inputs are perturbed with Virtual Reality (VR). METHODS: 90 consecutive patients underwent the DHI questionnaire and the balance test. The DHI questionnaire was used to measure the subject's perception of handicap associated with dizziness. The balance test measured the postural sway in several visual conditions: eyes open, eyes closed, and with an unpredictable visual perturbation using VR at several amplitudes of movement. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the DHI score and the balance measurement. The visual perturbations allow us to characterize patients into three groups: one group with a high DHI score who did not fall on the balance test (5.5%), one group with a low DHI score who failed eyes closed on a compliant surface (9.0%), and one group of the remaining patients (85.5%). The correlation between the DHI score and the balance performance became significant on the remaining group of patients. CONCLUSION: Both subjective self-report and objective measure are important to characterize a patient. The use of VR visual perturbations allowed us to define three important groups of patients. VR visual perturbations provided additional information that helps explain the lack of correlation between DHI and objective test results.

Internal consistency and factor analysis of the Dutch version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory.

CONCLUSIONS: The Dutch (Belgium) translation of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) has proven to be as consistent as the original version. In addition to the three original subscales, factor analysis revealed a fourth component scoring self-perceived effects of insufficient functioning of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Focus should be on the DHI total score in order to compare future results with the existing literature. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a factor analysis and to determine its internal consistency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts of 214 outpatients, referred with dizziness or imbalance of vestibular and non-vestibular origin, were reviewed. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for internal consistency were high for the total scale and good for the subscales. Corrected item-total correlations ranged from 0.71 for 'restricted travelling' to 0.29 for 'difficulties reading', when items were correlated with their respective subtotals, and ranged from 0.69 (restricted participation in social activities) to 0.33 (stressed relationships), when correlated with the total score. A principal component analysis with orthogonal rotation was conducted, suggesting a four-factor solution. Two factors were related to vestibular handicap, referring to the original functional and emotional subcategories. The remaining two factors related to vestibular disability, documenting motion sensitivity (original physical subscale) and insufficient VOR functioning.

Dizziness Symptom Type Prevalence and Overlap: A US Nationally Representative Survey.

BACKGROUND: The traditional approach to dizziness encourages providers to emphasize the type of dizziness. However, symptom types might substantially overlap in individual patients, thus limiting the clinical value of this approach. We aimed to describe the overlap of types of dizziness using a US nationally representative sample. METHODS: The 2008 US National Health Interview Survey was examined for prevalence and overlap of types of dizziness. The data were also separately examined among people who otherwise had typical features of traditionally vertigo-based disorders (ie, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and Meniere's disease). Data analysis also included exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: Twelve-month prevalence of problems with dizziness or balance was 14.8%, representing 33.4 million individuals. The mean number of dizziness symptoms was 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-2.4), with 61.1% reporting more than one type. Of subjects who otherwise had typical features of traditionally vertigo-based disorders, the mean number of dizziness types was 3.1 (95% CI, 3.0-3.3), and only 24.6% (95% CI, 21.0%-28.7%) reported vertigo as the primary type. Exploratory factor analysis found that symptom types loaded onto a single factor without other clinical or demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial overlap of dizziness types exists among US adults with dizziness. People otherwise having features of traditionally vertigo-based disorders also typically report multiple dizziness types and do not typically report vertigo as the primary type. Symptom types correlate more strongly with each other than with other clinical or demographic variables. These findings suggest that the traditional emphasis on dizziness types is likely of limited clinical utility.

Diagnostic criteria for persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD): Consensus document of the committee for the Classification of Vestibular Disorders of the Bárány Society.

This paper presents diagnostic criteria for persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) to be included in the International Classification of Vestibular Disorders (ICVD). The term PPPD is new, but the disorder is not. Its diagnostic criteria were derived by expert consensus from an exhaustive review of 30 years of research on phobic postural vertigo, space-motion discomfort, visual vertigo, and chronic subjective dizziness. PPPD manifests with one or more symptoms of dizziness, unsteadiness, or non-spinning vertigo that are present on most days for three months or more and are exacerbated by upright posture, active or passive movement, and exposure to moving or complex visual stimuli. PPPD may be precipitated by conditions that disrupt balance or cause vertigo, unsteadiness, or dizziness, including peripheral or central vestibular disorders, other medical illnesses, or psychological distress. PPPD may be present alone or co-exist with other conditions. Possible subtypes await future identification and validation. The pathophysiologic processes underlying PPPD are not fully known. Emerging research suggests that it may arise from functional changes in postural control mechanisms, multi-sensory information processing, or cortical integration of spatial orientation and threat assessment. Thus, PPPD is classified as a chronic functional vestibular disorder. It is not a structural or psychiatric condition.

Comparison of subjective and objective measurements of balance disorders following traumatic brain injury.

Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) often complain of dizziness. However, these problems may be undetected by a clinical exam. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between the subjective and objective measures of balance impairment. Ten patients with TBI (6 men and 4 women) and 10 matched controls participated in this study. Average duration since the TBI was 2.8 years (range 0.4-14.4). Six of the 10 subjects with TBI had abnormal imaging studies. All subjects and controls had a normal neuromuscular exam. Tinetti Balance Assessments were obtained and the TBI group was not significantly different from the control group. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) score supported their complaints of "unsteadiness" and "imbalance" from the subjects with TBI. The DHI score was 32 +/- 23 (range 4-68) out of a maximum possible score of 100. Balance was tested using computerized dynamic posturography. The Sensory Organization Test score was significantly lower for subjects who had a TBI (70 +/- 12) compared to the control subjects (80 +/- 8), which indicated that the subjects with TBI had poorer balance than the control subjects. A 13-link biomechanical model of the human body was used to compute the kinematics of the whole body center of mass (COM) while walking on a level surface. The subjects with TBI had significantly less displacement in the anterior/posterior direction, walked significantly slower, had significantly greater medial/lateral sway and velocity than the normal controls, and had significantly greater medial/lateral imbalance. There was a significant relationship between the physical aspects of the DHI and posturography. There was also significant relationship between the physical, functional, and total DHI and the motion of the COM. Overall, the motion of the COM predicted between 42 and 69% of the DHI score. The present study has demonstrated that objective measurements can quantify the patient's functional deficits. Therefore, these objective measurement techniques should be used to assess the clinical complaints of imbalance from patients with TBI.

[Application of the dizziness handicap inventory in the patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo].

Objective:This study was designed to observe the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) scores in patients with BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) before and after maneuver repositioning and aimed to discuss the values of DHI scores in the diagnosing and treatment of BPPV. Method:Charts of 72 patients with BPPV diagnosed by positioning test were reviewed. Four DHI scores were used including the total score (DHIT), the functional score (DHIF), the emotional score (DHIE), and the physical score (DHIP). We compared the pre-repositioning DHI scores and post-repositioning scores of patients, and also compared the DHI scores of patients with and without residual dizziness. Result:All of the 72 patients were underwent maneuver repositioning and recorded the DHI scores. The mean post-repositioning scores were dramatically decreased compared with pre-repositioning scores, and the difference was significant (P<0.01). The differences of the DHIP scores between the residual dizziness group and the non-residual dizziness group was not significant, while the DHIF scores, the DHIE scores and the DHIT scores between the two groups were statistically different. Conclusion:After maneuver repositioning the dizziness handicap of BPPV patients could be significantly improved. The next treatment program for residual dizziness patients after successful repositioning could be aimed at the functional and emotional dizziness.

A model of risk of falling for psychogeriatric patients.

One hundred community-dwelling psychiatric outpatients, 60 years and older, were evaluated for factors associated with symptoms of dizziness, falling, and orthostatic hypotension. Thirty-nine percent complained of dizziness or falling, and 34% had systolic orthostatic hypotension. Together, systolic and diastolic blood pressure drop, type of somatic illness, type and number of drugs, and psychiatric diagnosis accounted for 50% of the variance in dizziness and falling. Type of illness, drug category, and psychiatric diagnosis accounted for only 19% of the variance in orthostatic hypotension. Statistical analysis showed that systolic orthostatic hypotension, disease classification, and type and number of drugs taken contribute independently to dizziness and falling. In geriatric psychiatric patients, careful attention to orthostatic hypotension, concurrent somatic illness, and number and type of medication is essential to the prevention of dizziness, falling, and their consequences.