Journal Reviews
PPPD - the problem with the label
The recently described diagnostic entity of persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) has its merits regarding guiding intervention and treatment, but the label itself can be problematic for patients. This study was designed to determine the views of patients of the...
The vitamin D deficiency and recurrent BPPV debate revisited
The role of calcium metabolism and disorders of bone mineral density in the evolution and recurrence of BPPV has been debated over the years. As a contribution to this debate, the authors undertook a prospective study into the correlation between...
Chronic phase of concussion and stability of gaze
It has been known that vestibular symptoms can persist for several months after concussion. The authors designed this study to assess the effect of chronic concussion (more than one year) on gaze stability and the relationship between deficits in gaze...
A predictor of successful treatment of posterior canal BPPV
Reversal of nystagmus on returning to the upright sitting position from the Hallpike position is a common observation. However, its relevance as a predictor of a successful canal repositioning manoeuvre (CRM) is not known, hence this study. The retrospective study...
The vestibular system is not immune to chronic otitis media
It is well recognised that chronic otitis media (COM) is a risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss. Studies on the effect of COM on vestibular function have been beset by design biases. The authors designed a case control study to...
Impaired vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain correlates with hearing loss in vestibular schwannoma
The lack of correlation between the size of vestibular schwannoma (VS) and degree of hearing loss and vestibular function tests is well known. In this retrospective study, the focus was on the correlation between VOR gain of semicircular canal function,...
Paediatric idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
This Turkish retrospective study looked at the radiological and clinical characteristics, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes in children diagnosed with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Forty-eight children were included over an eight-year period. Complete recovery (CR) was achieved in...
Canal plugging for intractable Meniere’s disease
In this single centre retrospective study, the authors applied semicircular canal plugging, well known as a treatment for refractory BPPV, to intractable unilateral Meniere’s disease (MD) that had failed to respond to medical treatment with betahistine and hydrochlorothiazide. However, in...
Reliability of modified Dix-Hallpike test
Modifications of the Dix-Hallpike (DH) are sometimes necessary when the traditional DH is not feasible. The absence of any formal studies on modified DH was the idea behind this multicentre (three academic centres), prospective, randomised, single blinded and controlled clinical...
Does the season affect the diagnosis of vestibular disorders?
There are mixed results in the literature regarding seasonal variation in the presentation of various peripheral vestibular disorders. In this large population study involving over 20,000 patients recruited from 116 ENT practices across Germany, the authors analysed the demographic characteristics...
A voice as smooth as silk?
A number of materials currently exist for vocal fold injection medialisation. Popular options include calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), hyaluronic acid (HA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The authors of this paper state that there is an unmet need for an injectable material that...
Imaging of the parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism: where do we stand?
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) refers to an intrinsic parathyroid gland abnormality that produces excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone. PHPT is diagnosed biochemically, and surgical excision of the abnormal parathyroid tissue represents the only definitive cure. Historically, the standard operative management of...
