Sensory interaction platform posturography in patients with Ménière's syndrome

The influence on balance by the peripheral vestibular disturbance in Ménière's disease is studied. The influence of visual and proprioceptive support in balance is evaluated.

Patients with recurrent spontaneous vertigo attacks (n = 134) were studied, 90 with Ménière's disease and 44 with recurrent vestibulopathy. A post-urographic technique was applied with the patient standing on a force plate in four test conditions: (1) eyes open, (2) eyes closed on a stable platform, and the same two conditions on a foam rubber platform. Postural sway was measured for each test and the normality of the results were evaluated by a scoring system. Sensory interaction on balance was assessed by comparing the values of the test results obtained with and without interfering influences on the vestibular-visual-proprioceptive sensory input.

The results of the posturographic data were used to subdivide the patients into normal and abnormal groups. Comparison of the tests with and without visual input as well as of the tests with undisturbed and disturbed proprioceptive input were used to evaluate the effect of each sensory input and to determine which effects were dominant. In this way a "pattern" was defined. The interaction effect, thus defined, was most frequently positive, however, it could also be negative (negative patterns). Visual effects were most frequent. There was no significant difference for findings between patients who were stabilized and nonstabilized. Negative patterns suggest a complex interaction of the sensory inputs.

In these patients with spontaneous vertigo attacks, sensory interaction posturography showed an influence upon balance in the erect position. Different patterns of sensory interaction were found. There was no specific pattern for this category of patients. There was no significant difference related to the "stabilization" of the syndrome.