Post-Traumatic Vertigo
Post-Traumatic Vertigo refers to dizziness that follows a head injury or a neck injury. There are many potential causes of Post-Traumatic Vertigo, including:
a. Positional Vertigo or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
b. Post-Traumatic Meniere’s Syndrome
c. Labyrinthine Concussion
Diagnosis of the particular injury causing Post-Traumatic Vertigo often involves a detailed history from the patient. Relevant information includes a description of exactly when and how the neck or head was injured; the character of the dizziness (e.g., spinning, loss of balance, confusion); whether the patient lost consciousness and for how long; whether the airbags in the motor vehicle deployed; and other information.
Specialized exams will be performed, including tests designed to measure balance and provoke involuntary eye movements. Fistula testing to determine sensitivity to pressure is often used. Other diagnostics, including ENGs, MRIs, CT scans, and EEGs, are are sometimes employed.