Synchronized refixation saccades in enhanced VVOR test. A new application for PR score.

Abstract

Main objectives for this study were to develop a quantification method to obtain a Perez-Rey (PR) score adapted to the VVOR test and to evaluate the correlation of the PR score obtained with quantified VVOR with the PR score of the vHIT test. A new PR score calculation method for quantified VVOR test was developed using the MATLAB computational software based on saccadic response time latency variability between each head oscillation cycle of the VVOR test. Retrospective correlation between PR scores in VVOR and vHIT tests, performed in the same vHIT testing session for patients with vestibular neuritis and vestibular neurectomy, was performed to correlate new PR (VVOR) score with the classic PR (vHIT) score. Thirty patients were included: 11 post-neurectomy and 19 subacute vestibular neuritis. Pearson's correlation coefficient (R2) for the overall sample was 0.92 (p < 0.001) and 95% confidence interval was 0.85 -0.96. In the linear mixed-effects statistical model developed, only PRVHIT and PRVVOR scores showed statistical association in Wald X2 test (p = 0.008). The new developed PR score for synchronization measurement of saccadic responses in VVOR testing is a valid method that outputs synchronization values and highly correlates with PR score in vHIT test.