Constant severe imbalance following traumatic otoconial loss: a new explanation of residual dizziness

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology 2020-09, Vol.277 (9), p.2427-2435
• Main Authors: Hegemann, Stefan C. A., Weisstanner, Christian, Ernst, Arneborg, Basta, Dietmar, Bockisch, Christopher J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - diagnosis; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - etiology; Dizziness - diagnosis; Dizziness - etiology; Female; Head and Neck Surgery; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosurgery; Otolithic Membrane; Otology; Otorhinolaryngology; Saccule and Utricle; Semicircular Canals
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-020-05926-8

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of vertigo, caused by otoconia falling from the utricle into a semicircular canal (SCC). After successful repositioning maneuvers residual dizziness (RD) has been described and several reasons are used to explain RD. It can last for only a few days or weeks, but also much longer. We present a patient with a severe traumatic loss of otoconia from both maculae utriculi and a persistent imbalance more than 9 years. We think that the loss of otoconia from the utricular and probably also saccular macula induced a sudden reduction of her ability to sense gravity thus logically explaining her symptoms. We show the vestibular test results also supporting our hypothesis and we extrapolate this support to other forms of so far unexplained dizziness especially increasing imbalance with aging. We also discuss the normal c- and oVEMP indicating intact haircell function and supporting our hypothesis of isolated otoconial loss as the major cause for imbalance.