Chronic balance disorders after acoustic neuroma surgery: assessment of gravitational vertical perception

Abstract

Conclusion: The head tilt response (HTR) test performed in a group of patients with chronic dizziness after acoustic neuroma surgery showed alterations in the gravitational vertical perception (GV). Objective: The assessment of the accuracy in the GV through the HTR test in patients with long-term balance disorders after acoustic neuroma surgery. Methods: The HTR was performed in two groups of patients that had undergone acoustic neuroma surgery: six uncompensated patients (UPs) who maintained vestibular symptoms 1 year after surgery and two compensated patients (CPs) without vestibular symptoms. Twelve healthy control adults were also tested (control group, CG). Three parameters were measured in the HTR test: steady-state error (SSE), rise time (TRS), and mean energy of the error signal per step (MEE). Results: The UP group showed higher values for the TRS and MEE parameters compared with the CG (p < 0.05) when performing the HTR test to the side of the lesion and to the contralateral side, while the SSE only showed significant higher values when the patient estimated the GV towards the side of the lesion. The two patients in the CP group did not have differences in the three parameters assessed when compared with the CG.