[Analysis of high frequency semicircular canal function test in patients with unilateral vestibular neuronitis in the...

Objective:To analyze results obtained from high frequency semicircular canal function test in patients with unilateral vestibular neuronitis in the acute phase, aiming to provide references for clinical vestibular rehabilitation. Methods:A total of 49 patients with unilateral vestibular neuronitis in the acute phase were enrolled in this study. They were subjected to video head impulse test（vHIT） and vestibular autorotation test（VAT）. Test results were analyzed in detail. Results:vHIT results showed that 100% of patients presented a lower lateral horizontal semicircular canal gain than normal control, 93.88% presented a lower anterior semicircular canal gain, and 22.45% presented a lower posterior semicircular canal gain. VAT results showed: ①81.63%（40/49） of patients had a decline of horizonal VAT gain,83.67% （41/49） had an abnormal horizonal phase shift, and 63.27%（31/49） had an abnormal horizontal symmetry. ②32.65% （16/49） of patients had a decline of vertical VAT gain, and 16.33%（8/49） had abnormal vertical phase shift. Comparison results between vHIT and VAT data showed: ①There is a statistical difference between the rate of abnormal decline of vHIT horizonal semicircular canal gain and that of abnormal decline of VAT gain（P<0.01）. There is a statistical difference between the rate of abnormal decline of vHIT anterior semicircular canal gain and that of abnormal decline of vertical VAT gain（P<0.01）. No significant difference was found between the rate of abnormal decline of vHIT posterior semicircular canal gain and that of abnormal decline of vertical VAT gain（P>0.05）. ②100% of patients presented a lower vHIT lateral horizontal semicircular canal gain than normal one, and 63.27% of patients had an abnormal VAT horizontal symmetry, which was statistically significant（P<0.01）. ③The rate of abnormal decline of vertical VAT gain was 63.64% in patients with all declines of vHIT lateral horizontal, anterior and posterior semicircular canal gain, which was 23.68% in patients with declines of vHIT lateral horizontal and anterior semicircular canal gain. The difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）. Conclusion:vHIT is superior to VAT in the high-frequency semicircular canal function test of unilateral vestibular neuronitis patients in the acute phase. VAT can be used as an important supplement, and the combination of vHIT and VAT can more accurately guide the vestibular rehabilitation.