Lateralizing Value of Romberg Test and Modified Romberg Test in Acute Unilateral Vestibular Neuritis

Chung, Won Hee; Park, Jeong Ho; Lee, Tae Kyeong; Sung, Ki Bum

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Romberg test has been regarded as simple and efficient bedside modality to evaluate the vestibulospinal reflex in patients with balance disorders. we compared the direction of fall and that of yaw head rotation during Romberg test to evaluate its lateralizing value in acute unilateral vestibular neuritis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty three patients (n=43) with acute unilateral vestibular neuritis were included. We did Romberg test in three different head positions: with a head looking straight ahead (Romberg test1), turned to the right by about 90 degrees (Romberg test2) and turned to the left by about 90 degrees (Romberg test3) in yaw. Affected side of the vestibular neuritis was decided by the direction of nystagmus and the side of canal paresis. We compared the falling direction in each Romberg test, direction of nystagmus and canal paresis.
RESULTS
During Romberg test, 19 out of 43 fell to the lesion side (44%) and during modified Romberg test, 18 out of 43 fell to the lesion side (42%). On modified Romberg test, fallings to the side of affected labyrinth showed 14/18 (78%) in the Romberg test 2 and 15/18 (83%) in the Romberg test 3. The direction of falling in each maneuvers correlated statistically to the side of the affected labyrinth (p<0.05). Direction of nystagmus and the side of the canal paresis also showed correlation to the direction of falling in modified Romberg test.
CONCLUSION
Romberg and Modified Romberg tests are helpful to decide the affected side in vestibular neuritis to some extents.