Occurrence and mechanism of cervical vertigo in head injury patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the occurrence of cervical vertigo in patients with mild or moderate head injury and the related mechanism. Methods 312 cases suffering from mild or moderate head injury were examined by cervical spine X-ray and transcranial Doppler (TCD), or spinal computed tomography (SCT) in some. The examination results were analyzed by single factor analysis first, then the independent variables which had statistical meaning were analyzed by unconditional multivariate Logistic regression analysis to find out the relationship between abnormity of their results and cervical vertigo. Results By single factor analysis, the abnormity of cervical spine X-ray, SCT and over moderate abnormity of TCD had statistical significance with cervical vertigo. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the abnormity of SCT and over moderate abnormity of TCD had statistical significance with cervical vertigo. Cervical vertigo may be occurred when one of the two examination results were abnormaL, and it must be attached importance to when both examination results were abnormal. Conclusion The patients suffering from mild and moderate head injury accompanied with cervical spine SCT abnorrnity, or over moderate abnormity of TCD indicating insufficient blood in the vertebrae-base arteries may greatly have cervical vertigo. SCT and TCD may forecast whether cervical vertigo occurs in the patients with mild or moderate head injury. Key words: Head injury; Cervical vertigo; Cervical spine X-ray; Spinal computedtomography; Transcranial Doppler