Tone-induced cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials: comparing abnormalities in traumatic and...

Otolithic function is poorly understood, but vestibular-evoked myogenic potential testing has allowed the documentation of pathology in patients who complain of imbalance.

Seventy-four patients with traumatic and non-traumatic vestibular disease were sequentially assessed at a tertiary referral neuro-otology unit in a teaching hospital. A detailed history of all patients was taken and standard vestibular assessment was conducted using the technique described in the companion paper. The results of both groups of patients were analysed and the rate of abnormalities was assessed.

There was a high rate of abnormalities, including bilateral pathology, in a significant number of patients. Many patients in both groups inexplicably failed to recover.

Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials are helpful in documenting pathology, including bilateral pathology, which is outlined in the literature as being exceedingly difficult to compensate for.