Peripheral Vestibular Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Concussion

Adults are not older adolescents: comparing physical therapy findings among adolescents, young adults and older adults with persistent post-concussive symptoms

OBJECTIVE

Individuals with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) may present with a myriad of physical symptoms. There is limited research available comparing the presence of examination findings among individuals with PPCS from different age groups.

METHODS

Retrospective case-control chart review of 481 patients with PPCS and 271 non-trauma controls. Physical assessments were categorized as ocular, cervical, and vestibular/balance. Differences in presentation were compared between PPCS and controls as well as between individuals with PPCS in three age groups: adolescents, young adults, and older adults.

RESULTS

All three PPCS groups had more abnormal oculomotor findings than their age-matched counterparts. When comparing PPCS patients from different age groups, no differences were seen in prevalence of abnormal smooth pursuits or saccades; however, adolescents with PPCS had more abnormal cervical findings and a lower prevalence of abnormal NPC, vestibular and balance findings.

CONCLUSION

Patients with PPCS presented with a different constellation of clinical findings based on their age. Adolescents were more likely to demonstrate evidence of cervical injury compared to younger and older adults, and adults were more likely to present with vestibular findings and impaired NPC. Adults with PPCS were more likely to present with abnormal oculomotor findings compared to adults with non-traumatic causes of dizziness.

Characteristics of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in Young Children

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in young children.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case review.

METHODS

All children <10 years old that have been diagnosed with BPPV at our pediatric vestibular program between December 2012-July 2021 were selected. Clinical features were identified by medical record review, including demographics, comorbidities, canal involvement, response to treatment, and incidence of recurrence.

RESULTS

A total of 34 children were diagnosed with BPPV with a mean age of 7.9 years old (SD ± 1/7; range 5-9) at the time of diagnosis and a male:female ratio of 1:1. Involved semicircular canals included posterior in 82% (n = 28), horizontal in 41% (n = 14), and superior in 24% (n = 8) of patients, respectively. Comorbid diagnoses included migraine (n = 14), concussion (n = 10), acute vestibular syndrome (n = 4), and persistent postural perceptual dizziness (n = 6). Recurrence with initially confirmed resolution occurred in 10 patients (29%) with a mean of 2.5 recurrences per patient (SD: 2.2; range 1-8). A family history of vertigo or migraine was identified in 11 and 17 patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

BPPV is a cause of vertigo in children that may be overlooked. A relatively high proportion of patients demonstrated horizontal or superior canal involvement, recurrence, and additional comorbid causes of dizziness. Thus, providers evaluating young children with dizziness should perform diagnostic maneuvers to evaluate BPPV of all semicircular canals and continue to monitor children after successful treatment for recurrence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4, Case Series Laryngoscope, 133:694-699, 2023.

Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood

Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood (or recurrent vertigo of childhood) is the most common cause of vertigo in young children. It is considered a pediatric migraine variant or precursor disorder, and children with the condition have an increased likelihood of developing migraine later in life than the general population. Episodes are typically associated with room-spinning vertigo in conjunction with other migrainous symptoms (e.g. pallor, nausea, etc.), but it is rarely associated with headaches. Episodes typically only last for a few minutes and occur with a frequency of days to weeks without interictal symptoms or exam/test abnormalities. Treatment is rarely necessary, but migraine therapy may be beneficial in cases where episodes are particularly severe, frequent, and/or prolonged. An appreciation of the typical presentation and characteristics of this common condition is essential to any provider responsible for the care of children with migraine disorders and/or dizziness. This chapter will review the current literature on this condition, including its proposed pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management. This chapter also includes a brief introduction to pediatric vestibular disorders, including relevant anatomy, physiology, embryology/development, history-taking, physical examination, testing, and a review of other common causes of pediatric dizziness/vertigo.

Evaluation and management of paediatric vertigo

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes the most current information on cause, evaluation and treatment of dizziness in children.

RECENT FINDINGS

There has been an increased understanding of the multifactorial cause of dizziness in the paediatric population. Quantitative vestibular testing is increasingly used and valuable as a diagnostic adjunct. Vestibular rehabilitation, migraine hygiene, psychological therapies, pharmaceuticals and/or surgery can be used as well tolerated and effective treatments for vertigo in children and adolescents when tailored to cause.

SUMMARY

Paediatric vertigo can be effectively evaluated through careful history taking and physical examination along with adjunctive tests, such as vestibular testing and audiometry, when appropriate. Options for treatment of vestibular disorders in children and adolescents have greatly expanded in recent years allowing for the effective management of nearly all cases of paediatric vertigo, though a multimodal and/or multidisciplinary approach is often needed.

Vestibulo-ocular dysfunction in mTBI: Utility of the VOMS for evaluation and management – A review

BACKGROUND: Individuals who have suffered a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) frequently report symptoms associated with vestibular and/or oculomotor dysfunction (VOD) like dizziness, nausea, fatigue, brain fog, headache, gait and neurocognitive impairments which are associated with the development of chronic symptoms. The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) tool has been established as a reliable and clinically relevant complement to use alongside a battery of post-concussion tests to improve screening and referral for further evaluation and treatment of VOD. OBJECTIVES: This paper will review the pathoanatomy and symptomatology of common vestibular and oculomotor disorders after concussion, as well as the utility of the VOMS to assist in diagnosis, referral, and management. METHODS: Primary articles were identified using a search via PubMed, Google Scholar, OneSearch, and CINAHL. Search key terms were combinations of “mild traumatic brain injury” or “concussion” or “pursuit” or “accommodation” or “vergence” or “convergence insufficiency” or “saccades” or “vestibulo-ocular reflex” or “vestibular ocular motor screen” or “vestibular rehabilitation”, or “vision rehabilitation” including adult and pediatric populations that were published in print or electronically from 1989 to 2021 in English. Classic papers on anatomy of eye movements, vestibular system and pathological changes in mTBI were also included, regardless of publication date. RESULTS: Objective impairments are commonly found during testing of smooth pursuit, saccades, vergence, accommodation, vestibular ocular reflex, and visual motion sensitivity after mTBI. These deficits can be actively treated with vestibular physical therapy and oculomotor/neuro-optometric vision therapy. VOMS is an efficient and reliable tool that can be used by all healthcare and rehabilitation providers to aid in diagnosis of post-concussion VOD, to help facilitate the decision to refer for further evaluation and treatment to expedite symptomatic post-concussion recovery. CONCLUSIONS: VOD is common after concussion in acute, post-acute, and chronic phases. Once areas of impairments are identified through proper assessment, clinicians can maximize recovery by referring to vestibular physical therapy and/or neuro-optometry to design a targeted treatment program to address individual deficits.

Post-Concussive Vestibular Dysfunction Is Related to Injury to the Inferior Vestibular Nerve

Symptoms of vestibular dysfunction such as dizziness and vertigo are common after sports-related concussions (SRC) and associated with a worse outcome and a prolonged recovery. Vestibular dysfunction after SRC can be because of an impairment of the peripheral or central neural parts of the vestibular system. The aim of the present study was to establish the cause of vestibular impairment in athletes with SRC who have persisting post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). We recruited 42 participants-21 athletes with previous SRCs and PPCS ≥6 months and 21 healthy athletic age- and sex-matched controls-who underwent symptom rating, a detailed test battery of vestibular function and 7T magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) of cerebellar white matter tracts, and T1-weighted imaging for cerebellar volumetrics. Vestibular dysfunction was observed in 13 SRC athletes and three controls (p = 0.001). Athletes with vestibular dysfunction reported more pronounced symptoms on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI; p < 0.001) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; p < 0.001). No significant differences in DTI metrics were found, while in DKI two metrics were observed in the superior and/or inferior cerebellar tracts. Cerebellar gray and white matter volumes were similar in athletes with SRC and controls. Compared with controls, pathological video head impulse test results (vHIT; p < 0.001) and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP; p = 0.002) were observed in athletes with SRC, indicating peripheral vestibular dysfunction and specifically suggesting injury to the inferior vestibular nerve. In athletes with persisting symptoms after SRC, vestibular dysfunction is associated with injury to the inferior vestibular nerve.

Specialty-Specific Diagnoses in Pediatric Patients With Postconcussion Syndrome: Experience From a Multidisciplinary Concussion Clinic

OBJECTIVE

To describe the collaborative findings across a broad array of subspecialties in children and adolescents with postconcussion syndrome (PCS) in a pediatric multidisciplinary concussion clinic (MDCC) setting.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

Multidisciplinary concussion clinic at a pediatric tertiary-level hospital.

PATIENTS

Fifty-seven patients seen in MDCC for evaluation and management of PCS between June 2014 and January 2016.

INTERVENTIONS

Clinical evaluation by neurology, sports medicine, otolaryngology, optometry, ophthalmology, physical therapy, and psychology.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Specialty-specific clinical findings and specific, treatable diagnoses relevant to PCS symptoms.

RESULTS

A wide variety of treatable, specialty-specific diagnoses were identified as potential contributing factors to patients' postconcussion symptoms. The most common treatable diagnoses included binocular vision dysfunction (76%), anxiety, (57.7%), depression (44.2%), new or change in refractive error (21.7%), myofascial pain syndrome (19.2%), and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (17.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients seen in a MDCC setting receive a high number of treatable diagnoses that are potentially related to patients' PCS symptoms. The MDCC approach may (1) increase access to interventions for PCS-related impairments, such as visual rehabilitation, physical therapy, and psychological counseling; (2) provide patients with coordinated medical care across specialties; and (3) hasten recovery from PCS.

Clinical Assessment of Concussion and Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms for Neurologists

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Concussion produces a variety of signs and symptoms. Most patients recover within 2-4 weeks, but a significant minority experiences persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), some of which may be from associated cervical or persistent neurologic sub-system (e.g., vestibular) dysfunction. This review provides evidence-based information for a pertinent history and physical examination of patients with concussion.

RECENT FINDINGS

The differential diagnosis of PPCS is based on the mechanism of injury, a thorough medical history and concussion-pertinent neurological and cervical physical examinations. The concussion physical examination focuses on elements of autonomic function, oculomotor and vestibular function, and the cervical spine. Abnormalities identified on physical examination can inform specific forms of rehabilitation to help speed recovery. Emerging data show that there are specific symptom generators after concussion that can be identified by a thorough history, a pertinent physical examination, and adjunct tests when indicated.

Evaluating the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review

Purpose:To identify the tests and tools used to evaluate vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) function after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in all age groups and across TBI severity.Methods: An electronic search was conducted to include relevant peer-reviewed literature published up to November 2019. Studies included those done with humans, of all ages, and had assessments of oculomotor and/or vestibulo-ocular function in TBI.Results: Of the articles selected (N = 48), 50% were published in 2018/2019. A majority targeted mild TBI, with equal focus on non-computerized versus computerized measures of VOR. Computerized assessment tools used were videonystagmography, dynamic visual acuity/gaze stability, rotary chair, and caloric irrigation. Non-computerized tests included the head thrust, dynamic visual acuity, gaze stability, head shaking nystagmus, rotary chair tests and the vestibular/oculomotor screening tool. High variability in administration protocols were identified. Namely: testing environment, distances/positioning/equipment used, active/passive state, procedures, rotation frequencies, and variables observed.Conclusions: There is a rapid growth of literature incorporating VOR tests in mild TBI but moderate and severe TBI continues to be under-represented. Determining how to pair a clinical test with a computerized tool and developing standardized protocols when administering tests will help in developing an optimal battery assessing the VOR in TBI.

Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential Outcomes Associated with Pediatric Sports-Related Concussion

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To 1) characterize vestibular-evoked myogenic potential responses in children and young adults with sports-related concussion (SRC) histories as compared with a normal healthy control group, and 2) correlate VEMP characteristics to SRC/sport history outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Seventy-six children and young adults with and without a history of SRC received cervical and ocular VEMP testing using a 500 Hz tone burst air conduction stimuli. VEMP response parameters (response rates, peak latencies, and peak-to-peak amplitudes) were assessed. Other clinical vestibular measures were performed. In the SRC group, sport history outcomes including number of SRC sustained over a lifetime, years of playing contact sports, and length of time playing contact sports were collected via in-person questionnaire.

RESULTS

Children and young adults with SRC had significantly reduced oVEMP responses and peak-to-peak amplitudes and greater amplitude response asymmetries between left and right ear. There was no effect of group on cVEMP findings. A greater frequency of SRCs sustained throughout a lifetime, a greater number of contact sports played, and a longer duration of playing a contact sport correlated with significantly poorer VEMP response characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that SRC and repeated subclinical head impact events have an effect on oVEMP outcomes. SRC may affect the utricle, superior vestibular nerve, and/or brainstem-mediated vestibular-ocular-reflex pathway. The prevalence of post-concussion-related dizziness is becoming increasingly common in a pediatric-otology clinic, thus performing VEMP testing in youth post-SRC provides an objective, noninvasive, and cost-effective method for monitoring the effects of sports-related impact on the vestibular system and related neural pathways.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 2021.

Vestibular, Oculomotor, and Balance Functions in Children With and Without Concussion

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study was to assess whether objective vestibular, oculomotor, and balance functions were impaired in children with a current diagnosis of concussion with vestibular and/or ocular symptoms.

SETTING

Data were collected in a vestibular/ocular clinical laboratory. Patient participants were recruited from a concussion clinic in a children's hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-three children aged 8 to 17 years with a current diagnosis of concussion and vestibular and/or ocular symptoms and 30 children without concussion.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional single-visit study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Eye-tracking rotary chair oculomotor and vestibular measures, vestibular evoked potentials, and static posturography.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences on any clinical measure between children with concussion and children without concussion. Younger children without concussion performed significantly worse on several rotary chair and balance measures compared with older children without concussion.

CONCLUSIONS

No vestibular, oculomotor, or balance measures were significantly different between children with concussion and children without concussion, suggesting these measures may not be useful in the evaluation of a child with concussion and vestibular and/or oculomotor symptoms. Future research should investigate age effects and other vestibular and oculomotor tests to identify objective findings that better relate to vestibular and/or ocular symptoms in children with concussion.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in Children and Adolescents With Concussion

Background:

Dizziness after concussion is primarily attributed to effects on the brain, but traumatic inner ear disorders can also contribute. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common vestibular disorder that can result from minor head trauma and can be easily diagnosed and rapidly treated in an office setting. The role of BPPV in pediatric postconcussive dizziness has not been well-studied.

Purpose:

To evaluate the prevalence and clinical features of BPPV in a group of pediatric patients with concussion and prolonged dizziness after concussion.

Study Design:

Case-control study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

Retrospective review of 102 patients seen within the past 3 years in a pediatric multidisciplinary concussion clinic for evaluation of postconcussive dizziness.

Results:

BPPV was diagnosed in 29.4% (30/102) of patients with postconcussion syndrome and dizziness. All patients with BPPV were treated with repositioning maneuvers, except for 5 patients who had spontaneous resolution of symptoms. Patients were evaluated at an average of 18.8 weeks (SD, 16.4 weeks) after the injury. BPPV was diagnosed at similar rates regardless of gender or age group (children vs adolescents). The mean Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) score did not differ significantly between patients with (58.3 [SD, 22.5]) or without BPPV (55.8 [SD, 29.4]; P = 0.39). The PCSS “balance problems or dizziness” subscore also did not differ between patients with (3.3 [SD, 1.7]) or without BPPV (2.8 [SD, 1.6]; P = 0.13).

Conclusion:

BPPV is fairly common in pediatric concussion, occurring in one-third of the patients studied. BPPV is often not diagnosed and treated until many weeks after the injury. Increased awareness of the evaluation and management of BPPV among pediatric concussion providers may help expedite resolution of dizziness and hasten overall recovery in affected patients.

Clinical Relevance:

BPPV is a treatable cause of dizziness caused by minor head injuries and is more common than previously reported in pediatric patients with concussion. Improved awareness of BPPV by concussion providers may expedite recovery.

Multifactorial Characteristics of Pediatric Dizziness and Imbalance

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relative prevalence of individual diagnoses in children and adolescents presenting with dizziness and/or imbalance, and to assess the proportion of patients assigned multiple contributing diagnoses.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our internal database of all patients seen at our pediatric vestibular program between January 2012 and March 2019 to determine the incidence of common diagnoses and groups of diagnoses for patients ages 21 or younger.

RESULTS

One thousand twenty-one patients were included with a mean age of 12.5 ± 4.9 years (range: 9 months-21 years). Of this total, 624 patients were female and 397 were male. Common diagnoses included vestibular migraine (VM; 35.0%), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV; 21.6%), primary dysautonomia (15.7%), anxiety disorder (13.5%), and persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD; 11.2%). A high proportion of patients (44.4%) received multiple contributing diagnoses. VM was frequently diagnosed with BPPV or PPPD, and 22 patients were diagnosed with all three concurrently.

CONCLUSION

The causes of dizziness and imbalance in the pediatric population are diverse, and many patients have multiple diagnoses that are often interrelated. It is important that providers recognize that the causes of vestibular symptoms in children and adolescents may be multifactorial and may span across multiple specialties.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1308-E1314, 2021.

How rare is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in children? A review of 20 cases and their epidemiology

OBJECTIVE

The clinical features and incidence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) are not well known in pediatric populations. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of pediatric BPPV and to estimate the frequency of pediatric BPPV in the general population.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 20 children (6-14 years old) diagnosed with BPPV between 2007 and 2017. The age/sex distribution of BPPV for all ages at our hospital and in the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Sample (HIRA-NPS) database were compared. The annual incidence and proportion of children with BPPV were calculated.

RESULTS

BPPV occurred 1.86 times more frequently in girls than in boys. Nine children (45%) had associated comorbidities, such as inner ear disorders and recent head trauma. The posterior and lateral semicircular canals were most commonly involved (n = 9 for each), and recurrence was observed in two patients (10%). Children younger than 15 years accounted for approximately 1% of all BPPV cases. The annual incidence of BPPV was 171.5/100,000 for all ages and 9.5/100,000 in the pediatric population.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that pediatric BPPV is a relatively uncommon cause of vertigo in children and that the rates of related illness and recurrence are high.

Vestibular and Balance Dysfunction Following Sport-Related Concussion

Purpose

Sport-related concussion is a significant public health concern that requires a multidisciplinary team to appropriately manage. Athletes often report dizziness and imbalance following concussion, and these symptoms can predict increased time to recover. Vestibular diagnostic evaluations provide important information regarding the athlete's oculomotor, gaze stability, and balance function in order to identify deficits for rehabilitation. These measures also describe objective function helpful for determining when an athlete is ready to return to play. The purpose of this clinical focus article is to provide background on the current understanding of the effects of concussion on the peripheral and central vestibular system, as well as information on a protocol that can be used for acute concussion assessment. Case studies describing 3 common postconcussion presentations will highlight the usefulness of this protocol.

Conclusion

Sport-related concussion is a highly visible disorder with many symptoms that may be evaluated in the vestibular clinic. A thoughtful protocol evaluating the typical presentation of these patients may help guide the multidisciplinary team in determining appropriate management and clearance for return to sport.

Adapting the Dynamic, Recursive Model of Sport Injury to Concussion: An Individualized Approach to Concussion Prevention, Detection, Assessment, and Treatment

The risk factors of concussion may be categorized as intrinsic (internal factors specific to the individual) or extrinsic (external factors related to the environment or sport). Identifying these factors is part of an individualized, patient-centered approach to prevention, assessment, and management of concussion. In most cases, the symptoms of concussion resolve in the initial few days following the injury, and a strategy involving a gradual return to sport and school is recommended. When symptoms persist for longer than 7 to 10 days, a multifaceted interdisciplinary assessment to guide treatment is recommended. This article applies the dynamic, recursive model of sport injury to sport-related concussion and summarizes the process of individualized assessment and management following concussion in athletes of all ages, with a focus on physical rehabilitation. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2019;49(11):799-810. doi:10.2519/jospt.2019.8926.