Evaluation of shoulder stiffness due to vertebrobasilar insufficiency diagnosed from medical history and examination of the effectiveness of its treatment

Abstract

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) can be difficult to diagnose in otolaryngology clinics and at the present time there is no established treatment. In the present study, we diagnosed VBI and scored its severity (VBI score) based on a "diagnosis from medical history" according to "Materials for Standardization of Vertigo Diagnosis", which was prepared by the Japan Society for Equilibrium Research. We examined the involvement of shoulder stiffness in the onset and aggravation of VBI. We compared patients who were not aware of shoulder stiffness due to VBI at the onset of vertigo and who were treated with ATP + Ibudilast (group A) and patients who were aware of shoulder stiffness at the onset of vertigo and who were treated with ATP + ibudilast + eperisone hydrochloride + xenone laser with additional treatment for shoulder stiffness. The patients in group C showed significantly higher VBI and DHI scores before the start of treatment in comparison to the patients in group A. After 4 weeks, the VBI and DHI scores of the two groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent. The treatment of shoulder stiffness was effective. The muscle hardness of the trapezius in group C showed significant improvement at 4 weeks after the initial diagnosis, supporting our results.