Semiologic value and optimum stimuli trial during the vibratory test: results of a 3D analysis of nystagmus

Nystagmus signaling vestibular dysfunction was observed after vibratory stimulation with a 100 Hz ABC stimulator in a population of 36 patients with unilateral labyrinthine pathology (ULP) (pre and postoperative neuromas, vestibular neurectomies) and 10 patients with vestibular neuritis. The stimulus was applied on 3 bony points of the skull (vertex and 2 mastoids) and 2 muscular points of the neck (right and left posterior cervical region). These results were compared with those in 95 normal subjects and 19 cases of central disease and were correlated on the same day with results of the caloric test and head shaking test (HST). A consistent nystagmus was found in only 6 % of the normal subjects (specificity 94 %) and in 10 % of the central lesions, but in 94 % of the 36 peripheral ULP. The sensitivity of the test was equivalent to the HST. The signal was optimized in 30 patients: stimulus frequency, amplitude, stimulator mass, form of the contact, patient tolerance. The best results were obtained for a frequency of 100 Hz and an amplitude of 0.5 mm (there was no response under 0.1 mm vibration amplitude). Under videoscopy and 3D videonystagmography, the direction or side of the nystagmus was constant, but its axis (horizontal, oblique or rotational) changed according to the location of the stimulator: on the mastoid (elective location of stimulation with responses in 94 % of cases) the axis was most often horizontal or horizontal rotational. On the vertex location (where nystagmus was observed in 60 % of cases) the axis of nystagmus was most often rotational or oblique and sometimes horizontal-rotational. The nystagmus showed short latency (less than 200 ms). It started and stopped as stimulation was initiated and interrupted. Nystagmus persisted for the duration of patient tolerance. This nystagmus generally signifies unilateral vestibular weakness rather than vestibular predominance. It is a good indicator of unilateral vestibular dysfunction and could serve as a useful test in clinical practice. We discuss the origin of the nystagmus which may originate in muscle proprioception (by propagation of the vibration to neck muscles) or in the labyrinth (simultaneous excitation of 3 canals on each side).