Abstract
Virtual reality technology can provide a wide range of sensory stimuli to generate conflicts of varying degrees of complexity in a safe environment. ObjectiveTo verify the effect of a virtual reality-based balance rehabilitation program for patients with Menière's disease. MethodThis observational clinical study included 44 patients aged between 18 and 60 years diagnosed with Menière's disease submitted to a controlled randomized therapeutic intervention. The case and control groups took betahistine and followed a diet. Case group subjects underwent 12 rehabilitation sessions with virtual reality stimuli in a Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™). Patients were assessed based on DHI scores, the dizziness visual analogue scale, and underwent posturography with virtual reality before and after the intervention. ResultsAfter the intervention, the case group showed significantly lower scores in DHI (p < 0.001) and in the dizziness visual analog scale (p = 0.012), and had significantly greater limit of stability areas (p = 0.016) than controls. ConclusionVirtual reality-based balance rehabilitation effectively improved dizziness, quality of life, and limit of stability of patients with Menière's disease.
Highlights
Ménière’s disease is characterized by tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss in paroxysmal episodes without the involvement of the central nervous system
Patients were assessed based on Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores, the dizziness visual analogue scale, and underwent posturography with virtual reality before and after the intervention
Paper submitted to the BJORL-SGP (Publishing Management System - Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology) on August 8, 2012; and accepted on February 3, 2013. cod. 9963
Summary
Ménière’s disease is characterized by tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss in paroxysmal episodes without the involvement of the central nervous system. Endolymphatic hydrops is believed to be the pathophysiological basis of the disease. The specificity of the association between evidences of endolymphatic hydrops and clinical manifestations of the disease does not appear to be absolute[2]. Ménière’s disease has been described as recurring vertigo episodes lasting for a minimum of 20 minutes accompanied by nausea and vomiting, spontaneous horizontal rotational nystagmus, hearing loss, aural fullness, and tinnitus. Four levels of certainty have been attributed to the diagnosis of Ménière’s: certain, when confirmation is available through pathology testing; definite, when the patient has had two or more spontaneous episodes of vertigo lasting for at least 20 minutes, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus or sensation of aural fullness in the involved ear; probable, when the patient has had one episode of vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus or aural fullness in the affected ear; and possible, when the patient has had recurrent episodic vertigo without documented hearing loss, or fluctuating or stable sensorineural hearing loss with imbalance without recurrent episodic vertigo[3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
