VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION

Course overview

VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION IS A DISTURBANCE IN THE BODY'S BALANCE SYSTEM DUE TO PERIPHERAL OR CENTRAL CAUSES. THE SYMPTOMS OF PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION CAN OVERLAP, AND A PROPER PHYSICAL EXAM CAN OFTEN HELP DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO. THE PATIENT'S SYMPTOMS TYPICALLY CONSIST OF VERTIGO, NAUSEA, VOMITING, INTOLERANCE TO HEAD MOTION, NYSTAGMUS, UNSTEADY GAIT, AND POSTURAL INSTABILITY. THE MOST COMMON FORM OF ACUTE PERIPHERAL VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION IS VESTIBULAR NEURITIS, WHEREAS AN ISCHEMIC STROKE OF THE POSTERIOR FOSSA ACCOUNTS FOR THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF ACUTE CENTRAL VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR THE PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.