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Postural Stability of Preoperative Acoustic Neuroma Patients Assessed by Sway Magnetometry: Are They Unsteady?
Author(s) -
Collins Melanie M.,
Johnson Ian J. M.,
Clifford Elaine,
Birchall John P.,
O'Donoghue Gerald M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-200304000-00010
Subject(s) - acoustic neuroma , medicine , eyes open , neuroma , magnetic resonance imaging , surgery , radiology , balance (ability) , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Objective The objective was to evaluate the preoperative postural stability of acoustic neuroma patients using sway magnetometry. Study Design Prospective two‐center study. Methods Fifty‐one patients (mean age, 53 years) diagnosed with unilateral acoustic neuroma on magnetic resonance imaging at two tertiary referral centers were studied. Preoperatively, each patient had sway patterns (with eyes open and with eyes closed, and standing on foam) recorded for 120 seconds by sway magnetometry. Path length for 30 seconds was calculated. The Romberg coefficient (path length with eyes open divided by path length with eyes closed) was calculated. Results Forty‐four percent of patients had abnormal path lengths with eyes open, and 49% with eyes closed. The Romberg coefficients were significantly lower than normal ( P <.001; 95% CI, 0.19–0.87). Mean Romberg coefficient was 0.59 (normal value = 0.73), and all patients had a coefficient of less than 1. Conclusions Half of preoperative acoustic neuroma patients are unsteady, exhibiting abnormal sway patterns based on path length measurements. The increase in sway path length demonstrable in normal subjects with eyes closed was significantly exaggerated in patients with acoustic neuroma.