Digital craniocorpography and peripheral vestibular diseases

Peripheral vestibular diseases (PVDs) often produce many symptoms but few or no measurable signs. Tests that capture and measure signs permit the comparison between normal and vertiginous populations. The aim of our research was to find movement patterns that could identify PVD patients, using a motion analysis laboratory. The results from 21 asymptomatic volunteers who underwent the Unterberger-Fukuda stepping test were compared to those of 38 PVD patients. We established diagnosis after a complete otoneurological workup prior to the stepping test. The VICON 370 (Oxford Metrics Ltd, Oxford, UK) was used for digital capture and analysis of the stepping tests. Lateral sway, linear and total displacement, shoulder height oscillation, and torticollis angle were the same for individuals in both groups, but stepping time, body spin, and angular deviation were statistically greater in those in the patient group and might help in the diagnosis of PVDs.