Stabilometry in otitis media secretoria

Abstract

Twenty-five children with unilateral or bilateral otitis media secretoria were tested. Freyss' stabilometer with movable platform and head movement detector was used. The maximal and average amplitude of the platform and average velocity of the platform, and of the head were appreciated. The platform could be moved by the body balanced in two separate directions: forward–backward and to the sides, with eyes open and closed. The control group consisted of 25 healthy children, and was tested to compare the results. It was revealed that only the maximal values of the amplitudes were significantly different (Student's t-test 0.009 and 0.05) between the normal group and children with otitis media secretoria. These results did not depend on the direction of the platform movement and fixation, and were the greatest (the most pathological) during forward–backward sway with eyes closed and sway to the sides with eyes open. But the comparison of the parameters within the patients' group, discovered significant differences in the average amplitude of the platform moving backward–forward while keeping the eyes open and closed. So, finding such small postural disturbances in our children with otitis media secretoria as compared with the normal sample, we concluded that postural control remained accurate, giving small measurable deviations. But worse balance control during backward–forward sway in otitis media secretoria was compared with the sway parameters in normal children and it became clear that it was worse generally, independently of the clinical stage. Such a configuration of the results may be a result of the maturation process of the central structures which has not been completed in adolescence.