EVALUATION OF VERTIGO FOLLOWING HEAD INJURIES

Abstract

Dizziness is frequently encountered after head injuries. When associated with other neurologic signs, as it often is shortly after the trauma, it leaves no doubt concerning its organic origin. This discussion however will be limited to those cases in which months or even years after a head injury, frequently of a mild type, dizziness is the outstanding or the sole complaint. This dizziness almost always occurs either spontaneously or as a result of certain movements or positions. Examination of the patients usually reveals no clinical signs to explain this complaint of dizziness, and therefore these patients are usually labeled as having some type of neurosis. The most common diagnoses are traumatic neurosis, traumatic hysteria, encephalopathy and traumatic encephalitis—obviously, all diagnoses of embarrassment. The physician's predicament is due to his omission of the examination of the only organ capable of producing this symptom, i. e., the vestibular apparatus. The examination of