Posturographic pattern of patients with chronic subjective dizziness before and after vestibular rehabilitation

Chronic subjective dizziness (CSD) is frequently encountered in neurotology clinics. This diagnosis is mainly clinical, but computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) could be a helpful instrumental tool in the identification of these patients and validation of the treatment. This study was aimed to look for a specific posturographic pattern among patients diagnosed with CSD, and to eventually visualize improvement after vestibular rehabilitation.

Single center, retrospective review from 2009 to 2014. We included patients diagnosed with CSD who underwent CDP in their neurotologic assessment. For those patients who benefited from vestibular rehabilitation, we compared their pre- and post-rehabilitation posturographies.

We included 114 patients, of whom 74% had known anxiety disorders and 33% a history of past vestibular disorder. 62% of the assessment posturographies were abnormal. The most affected sub-items were limit of stability, composite score of sensory organization tests and condition 5 in respectively 34%, 23% and 20% of the cases. In univariate analysis, only pathologic videonystagmography and history of unilateral vestibular dysfunction were significantly related to abnormal posturography. In the 42 patients who had vestibular rehabilitation and a post rehabilitation posturography, the proportion of abnormal posturography significantly dropped from 79% to 33% (p < 0.001). When it was assessed, 79% of the patients reported a subjective improvement.

Patients with CSD have a high rate of abnormal posturography, but without a specific pattern. Vestibular rehabilitation is an effective tool in the therapeutic armamentarium.