Res Vestib Sci.  2019 Sep;18(3):59-63. 10.21790/rvs.2019.18.3.59.

Dizziness after Traumatic Brain Injury: Neurological Aspects

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, Wonkwang University Hospital, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Iksan, Korea. nmgom@wku.ac.kr

Abstract

Vertigo, dizziness, and disequilibrium are common symptoms following concussion or traumatic brain injury. Dizziness and vertigo may be the result of trauma to the peripheral vestibular system or the central nervous system, or, in some cases, may be due to anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder; these mechanisms are not mutually exclusive. While most peripheral vestibular disorders can be identified by testing and examination, those without inner ear causes that have persisting complaints of dizziness and motion sickness are more difficult to understand and to manage. Some of these patients exhibit features compatible with vestibular migraine and may be treated successfully with migraine preventative medications. This paper reviews the neurological causes of persisting dizziness, the possible mechanisms, and the pathophysiology, as a framework for patient management and for future research.

Keyword

Traumatic brain injury; Postconcussional syndrome; Diffuse axonal injury; Cervical vertigo; Posttraumatic migraine

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Brain Injuries*
Central Nervous System
Depression
Diffuse Axonal Injury
Dizziness*
Ear, Inner
Humans
Migraine Disorders
Motion Sickness
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Vertigo
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