Abstract
Patients complaining of dizziness or equilibrium disturbance after head injuries are on the increase. A neurotological evaluation of head injury sequelae which was present in 3 cases is attempted and the literature concerning brain-stem trauma is reviewed. In many cases that present neurotological symptoms attributable to damage of the brain-stem or cerebellum after head injuries, neurological findings are generally absent. Careful examination of the type of nystagmus presented by these cases together with the results of objective tests of dizziness or equilibrium disturbance are of significant value in, the diagnosis. In studying nystagmus methods that allow quantitative evaluation such as electronystagmography or the optokinetic pattern are especially useful and further improvement of these methods should aid in the clinical management of head injuries, particulary in diagnosing the site of the lesion.
