Association between the Unterberger-Fukuda test and vectoelectronystagmography

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

to study and characterize anteroposterior and angular deviations in the Unterberger-Fukuda Test (UFT) in relation to the results of the caloric tests in patients complaining of dizziness or vertigo.

Methods:

44 subjects-men and women between 20 and 79 years of age-who had symptoms of vertigo or dizziness and had been referred for vectoelectronystagmography were examined. The exclusion criteria were gait difficulties arising from orthopedic and/or spinal disorders, and syndromes or neurological diseases that affect balance. Two procedures were performed: vectoelectronystagmography and UFT.

Results:

the caloric test showed that 25.00% of the patients had hyporeflexia-the most frequent result. In the open-eyes UFT, only 2.30% presented altered results in anteroposterior displacement. In the closed-eyes test, the equivalent value was 31.80%. Anteroposterior deviation showed a greater correlation with age than the angular one. Abnormal results in the caloric test were associated with the UFT.

Conclusion:

the results of the closed-eyes UFT were associated with the caloric test. Anteroposterior deviation was correlated with age, while angular deviation was not.

Keywords:
Postural Balance; Dizziness; Vertigo; Electronystagmography; Adult