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Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
Published on: December 11, 2013
Intermittent gait disturbance in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
Y Nikaido1,2, Y Kajimoto3, A Tucker3
1Clinical Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Osaka Medical College Hospital, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|October 13, 2017
Summary
Intermittent gait disturbance (IGD) is common in mild idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting improved IGD symptoms, highlighting its diagnostic value for early iNPH detection.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Gait Analysis
Background:
- Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a neurological disorder.
- Gait disturbance is a key symptom of iNPH.
- Intermittent gait disturbance (IGD) has been observed in mild iNPH stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the temporal gait profile of IGD during prolonged walking.
- To evaluate the treatment effect of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting in iNPH patients with and without IGD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of 14 mild iNPH patients with TUG < 20 seconds.
- Categorization into IGD (n=7) and persistent gait disturbance (PGD) (n=7) groups based on self-reported gait difficulty after 5 minutes of walking.
- Gait function assessed using 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test pre- and post-CSF shunting.
Main Results:
- IGD group showed progressive decline in gait speed and step length during 6MWT preoperatively.
- Postoperative CSF shunting led to improvement in IGD features.
- PGD group did not show significant worsening during preoperative 6MWT, and gait did not significantly change post-surgery.
- 6MWT was more sensitive than TUG in detecting gait improvement 1 week after shunting.
Conclusions:
- IGD is a frequent symptom in early-stage iNPH.
- IGD can serve as a valuable clinical marker for identifying mild iNPH.
- CSF shunting is an effective treatment for improving IGD in iNPH patients.
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