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Neurologic Clinics May 2021Vestibular symptoms, including dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness, are common presentations in the emergency department. Most cases have benign causes, such as... (Review)
Review
Vestibular symptoms, including dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness, are common presentations in the emergency department. Most cases have benign causes, such as vestibular apparatus dysfunction or orthostatic hypotension. However, dizziness can signal a more sinister condition, such as an acute cerebrovascular event or high-risk cardiac arrhythmia. A contemporary approach to clinical evaluation that emphasizes symptom duration and triggers along with a focused oculomotor and neurologic examination can differentiate peripheral causes from more serious central causes of vertigo. Patients with high-risk features should get brain MRI as the diagnostic investigation of choice.
Topics: Dizziness; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neurologic Examination; Somatosensory Disorders; Vertigo
PubMed: 33896524
DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2021.01.008 -
Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America Oct 2021The evaluation of dizziness as a chief complaint can be exceptionally challenging to otolaryngologists. The critical piece in evaluating dizzy patients is to have a plan... (Review)
Review
The evaluation of dizziness as a chief complaint can be exceptionally challenging to otolaryngologists. The critical piece in evaluating dizzy patients is to have a plan for how to screen and schedule, how to gather data, and to develop a workflow for testing that allows clinical efficiency. This article provides an overview of evidence-based practices on how to screen dizzy patients before being scheduled, how to efficiently move patients through the otolaryngologist's clinic, and strategies for managing a dizzy practice.
Topics: Dizziness; Humans; Vertigo
PubMed: 34538358
DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2021.05.008 -
The Journal of Manual & Manipulative... Oct 2022Patients with cervicogenic dizziness (CGD) present with dizziness, cervical spine dysfunctions, and postural imbalance, symptoms that can significantly impact their... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Patients with cervicogenic dizziness (CGD) present with dizziness, cervical spine dysfunctions, and postural imbalance, symptoms that can significantly impact their daily functioning.
OBJECTIVES
To provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of patients with CGD.
METHODS
Three databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (last search 15 May 2021). Outcome measures included dizziness, cervical spine, and balance parameters. Cochrane standard methodological procedures were used and included the RoB 2.0 and GRADE. Where possible, RCTs were pooled for meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Thirteen RCTs (n = 898 patients) of high (two RCTs), moderate (five RCTs), and low (six RCTs) methodological quality were analyzed. Six RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Only three RCTs specified the cause of CGD. They showed inconsistent findings for the effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with traumatic CGD. Manual therapy and manual therapy combined with exercise therapy may reduce CGD, cervical spine, and balance dysfunctions.
CONCLUSION
There is moderate quality of evidence that manual therapy reduces CGD, cervical spine, and balance symptoms. When manual therapy is combined with exercise therapy, the positive effect on CGD, cervical spine, and balance symptoms is even stronger. However, the quality of the evidence here is very low.
Topics: Cervical Vertebrae; Dizziness; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Vertigo
PubMed: 35383538
DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2022.2033044 -
Archives de Pediatrie : Organe Officiel... Oct 2023Vertigo is common in childhood and adolescence. Although children and adults share common causes of vertigo, epidemiology changes with aging. For instance, ischemic... (Review)
Review
Vertigo is common in childhood and adolescence. Although children and adults share common causes of vertigo, epidemiology changes with aging. For instance, ischemic stroke is less frequent in childhood, whereas audiovestibular disorders, such as vestibular neuritis and the migraine equivalent, are the leading causes of vertigo. However, even if severe causes of vertigo are rare, clinicians must not miss them. In this review, we discuss the neurological causes of central vertigo in children. The diagnostic approaches reviewed here are focused on the search for signs of severity, such as an abrupt onset, infectious context, or intracranial hypertension, which may subsequently require brain imaging.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Dizziness; Vertigo; Migraine Disorders
PubMed: 37537083
DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2023.07.001 -
Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience 2012Dizziness is a general, non-specific term to indicate a sense of disorientation. Vertigo is a subtype of dizziness and refers to an erroneous perception of self- or... (Review)
Review
Dizziness is a general, non-specific term to indicate a sense of disorientation. Vertigo is a subtype of dizziness and refers to an erroneous perception of self- or object-motion or an unpleasant distortion of static gravitational orientation that is a result of a mismatch between vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems. Vertigo is among the most common complaints in medicine, affecting approximately 20-30% of the general population. Stroke accounts for 3-7% among all causes of vertigo. The blood perfusion to the inner ear, brainstem, and cerebellum arise from the vertebrobasilar system. Vertigo, nausea, and vomiting, along with nystagmus, represent symptoms of stroke in posterior fossa due to arterial occlusion or rupture of the vertebrobasilar system. However, the spectrum of signs and symptoms as a manifestation of stroke associated with dizziness and vertigo may be variable depending on the affected vascular territories. Stroke or transient ischemic attack should be seriously considered in patients presenting with acute vertigo in the emergency room. Differential diagnosis between vascular vertigo and other causes of vertigo can result in misclassification due to the overlapping of symptoms. Careful medical history, physical examination, neuroimaging and ear, nose, and throat studies may help to distinguish vascular vertigo from other causes.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Dizziness; Humans; Stroke; Vertigo
PubMed: 22377855
DOI: 10.1159/000333379 -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Jan 2021
Topics: COVID-19; Dizziness; Humans; SARS-CoV-2; Vertigo
PubMed: 32931322
DOI: 10.1177/0145561320959573 -
Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.) Apr 2021This article details updated clinical presentations and current treatment paradigms of the common otologic disorders that may present to the neurologist for vertigo,... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article details updated clinical presentations and current treatment paradigms of the common otologic disorders that may present to the neurologist for vertigo, including Ménière disease, superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome, perilymphatic fistula, barotrauma, cholesteatoma, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome, and autoimmune inner ear disease including Cogan syndrome.
RECENT FINDINGS
The recent data on modern imaging techniques with three-dimensional delayed IV contrast in Ménière disease, findings on the clinical and testing parameters to diagnose semicircular canal dehiscence and barotrauma, and clinical findings in Ramsay Hunt syndrome, cholesteatoma, and enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome are discussed in the article. The most recent findings on the treatment and evaluation of autoimmune inner ear disease and Cogan syndrome are also covered.
SUMMARY
This article discusses the common clinical otologic entities in patients who may present to the neurologist for vertigo, and it can be used as a guide in the diagnosis of these conditions with the use of auditory, vestibular, and imaging results.
Topics: Dizziness; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Humans; Vertigo; Vestibular Aqueduct
PubMed: 34351115
DOI: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000977 -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... May 2023History and physical examination are key features to narrow the differential diagnosis of central versus peripheral causes in patients presenting with acute vertigo. We... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
History and physical examination are key features to narrow the differential diagnosis of central versus peripheral causes in patients presenting with acute vertigo. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic test accuracy of physical examination findings.
METHODS
This study involved a patient-intervention-control-outcome (PICO) question: (P) adult ED patients with vertigo/dizziness; (I) presence/absence of specific physical examination findings; and (O) central (ischemic stroke, hemorrhage, others) versus peripheral etiology. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) was assessed.
RESULTS
From 6309 titles, 460 articles were retrieved, and 43 met the inclusion criteria: general neurologic examination-five studies, 869 patients, pooled sensitivity 46.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 32.3%-61.9%, moderate certainty) and specificity 92.8% (95% CI 75.7%-98.1%, low certainty); limb weakness/hemiparesis-four studies, 893 patients, sensitivity 11.4% (95% CI 5.1%-23.6%, high) and specificity 98.5% (95% CI 97.1%-99.2%, high); truncal/gait ataxia-10 studies, 1810 patients (increasing severity of truncal ataxia had an increasing sensitivity for central etiology, sensitivity 69.7% [43.3%-87.9%, low] and specificity 83.7% [95% CI 52.1%-96.0%, low]); dysmetria signs-four studies, 1135 patients, sensitivity 24.6% (95% CI 15.6%-36.5%, high) and specificity 97.8% (94.4%-99.2%, high); head impulse test (HIT)-17 studies, 1366 patients, sensitivity 76.8% (64.4%-85.8%, low) and specificity 89.1% (95% CI 75.8%-95.6%, moderate); spontaneous nystagmus-six studies, 621 patients, sensitivity 52.3% (29.8%-74.0%, moderate) and specificity 42.0% (95% CI 15.5%-74.1%, moderate); nystagmus type-16 studies, 1366 patients (bidirectional, vertical, direction changing, or pure torsional nystagmus are consistent with a central cause of vertigo, sensitivity 50.7% [95% CI 41.1%-60.2%, moderate] and specificity 98.5% [95% CI 91.7%-99.7%, moderate]); test of skew-15 studies, 1150 patients (skew deviation is abnormal and consistent with central etiology, sensitivity was 23.7% [95% CI 15%-35.4%, moderate] and specificity 97.6% [95% CI 96%-98.6%, moderate]); HINTS (head impulse, nystagmus, test of skew)-14 studies, 1781 patients, sensitivity 92.9% (95% CI 79.1%-97.9%, high) and specificity 83.4% (95% CI 69.6%-91.7%, moderate); and HINTS+ (HINTS with hearing component)-five studies, 342 patients, sensitivity 99.0% (95% CI 73.6%-100%, high) and specificity 84.8% (95% CI 70.1%-93.0%, high).
CONCLUSIONS
Most neurologic examination findings have low sensitivity and high specificity for a central cause in patients with acute vertigo or dizziness. In acute vestibular syndrome (monophasic, continuous, persistent dizziness), HINTS and HINTS+ have high sensitivity when performed by trained clinicians.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Dizziness; Stroke; Vertigo; Emergency Service, Hospital; Nystagmus, Pathologic; Physical Examination
PubMed: 36453134
DOI: 10.1111/acem.14630 -
Neurological Sciences : Official... Jan 2023Dizziness is an important symptom presenting in routine practice and the life time prevalence ranges from 17 to 30%. Persistent positional perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Dizziness is an important symptom presenting in routine practice and the life time prevalence ranges from 17 to 30%. Persistent positional perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a common cause of chronic dizziness and has often been labeled as psychogenic dizziness in the past.
DISCUSSION
PPPD is diagnosed based on clinical criteria laid down by the Barany society. The vestibular function tests and imaging of the brain and the inner ear are often normal. Most of the patients have an underlying anxiety trait and most cases of PPPD arise following an attack of acute vertigo like Meniere's disease and vestibular neuritis. It is important to differentiate the condition from bilateral vestibulopathy. There is no role of vestibular sedative in the treatment of such condition. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) like sertraline have shown benefits. However, long-term outcome is not known.
CONCLUSION
PPPD is a relatively new entity in the ever-expanding field of neurotology that requires a multimodality approach for effective management. The otologists and general physicians must identify the condition so that favorable outcome can be achieved. The long-term effects of treatment with CBT and VRT are not known. It is important to formulate standard guidelines for treatment. Further research is necessary to identify the role of endogenous biomarkers in the outcome of treatment.
Topics: Humans; Dizziness; Vertigo; Brain; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders
PubMed: 35994134
DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06353-9 -
Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.) Apr 2017This article summarizes an approach to evaluating dizziness for the general neurologist and reviews common and important causes of dizziness and vertigo. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article summarizes an approach to evaluating dizziness for the general neurologist and reviews common and important causes of dizziness and vertigo.
RECENT FINDINGS
Improved methods of diagnosing patients with vertigo and dizziness have been evolving, including additional diagnostic criteria and characterization of some common conditions that cause dizziness (eg, vestibular migraine, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, chronic subjective dizziness). Other uncommon causes of dizziness (eg, superior canal dehiscence syndrome, episodic ataxia type 2) have also been better clarified. Distinguishing between central and peripheral causes of vertigo can be accomplished reliably through history and examination, but imaging techniques have further added to accuracy. What has not changed is the necessity of obtaining a basic history of the patient's symptoms to narrow the list of possible causes.
SUMMARY
Dizziness and vertigo are extremely common symptoms that also affect function at home and at work. Improvements in the diagnosis and management of the syndromes that cause dizziness and vertigo will enhance patient care and cost efficiencies in a health care system with limited resources. Clinicians who evaluate patients with dizziness will serve their patient population well by continuing to manage patients with well-focused workup and attentive care.
Topics: Aged; Ambulatory Care; Dizziness; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Vertigo
PubMed: 28375910
DOI: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000450