Patterns of vestibular dysfunction in chronic traumatic brain injury

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Otolaryngology
• Vestibular System

Background:

• Dizziness and imbalance are frequent after traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• The exact causes, whether peripheral or central, remain unclear.
• This study examines vestibular system abnormalities in chronic TBI patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of semicircular canal and otolith abnormalities in TBI patients with dizziness.
• To explore the relationship between vestibular, oculomotor, and postural control outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Reviewed 158 patient records from Jan 2015-Dec 2019.
• Included 99 patients with diagnosed TBI and vestibular assessment (vHIT, VEMPs, caloric testing).
• Compared vestibular results with oculomotor function and postural control (SOT).

Main Results:

• 33.3% of patients (33/99) had vestibular abnormalities.
• Horizontal semicircular canal (18.2%) and saccule (14.1%) were most affected.
• Vestibular issues correlated with skull-base fractures; postural instability linked to oculomotor dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Vestibular hypofunction is present in TBI but less common than postural instability.
• Abnormalities were noted but no specific pattern of end-organ or nerve involvement.
• Postural stability impairment is a key issue in TBI-related dizziness and imbalance.