Association between the Unterberger-Fukuda test and vectoelectronystagmography

• Main Authors: Ana Cecilia Grilli Fernandes, Nelma Ellen Zamberlan-Amorim, Sthella Zanchetta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: CEFAC Saúde e Educação
• Series: Revista CEFAC
• Subjects: Equilíbrio Postural; Tontura; Vertigem; Eletronistagmografia; Adulto
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-18462018000200145&lng=en&tlng=en

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.