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Semin Neurol 2013; 33(03): 238-243
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1354599
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Posttraumatic Vertigo and Dizziness

Terry D. Fife
1   Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
2   Department of Neurology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona
,
Christopher Giza
3   Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Mattel Children's Hospital – UCLA, Los Angeles, California
4   Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA Brain Injury Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
21 September 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Dizziness and vertigo are common symptoms following minor head trauma. Although these symptoms resolve within a few weeks in many patients, in some the symptoms may last much longer and impede ability to return to work and full functioning. Causes of persisting or recurrent dizziness may include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, so-called labyrinthine concussion, unilateral vestibular nerve injury or damage to the utricle or saccule, perilymphatic fistula, or less commonly traumatic endolymphatic hydrops. Some dizziness after head trauma is due to nonlabyrinthine causes that may be related to structural or microstructural central nervous system injury or to more complicated interactions between migraine, generalized anxiety, and issues related to patients self-perception, predisposing psychological states, and environmental and stress-related factors. In this article, the authors review both the inner ear causes of dizziness after concussion and also the current understanding of chronic postconcussive dizziness when no peripheral vestibular cause can be identified.

Keywords

postconcussive syndrome - postconcussive dizziness - vertigo - traumatic brain injury
 

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