A comparison of electronystagmography results with posturography findings from the BalanceTrak 500.

Objective: To determine a correlation between conventional electronystagmography findings with results obtained from BalanceTrak 500 posturography assessment.

Study Design: Individuals with a variety of dizziness and balance disorder symptoms were tested with both electronystagmography (ocular motor studies, positional/positioning testing, caloric testing) and computer posturography using the BalanceTrak 500.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Patients: Urban/rural midwesterners referred for dizziness and balance dysfunction symptoms.

Intervention: Results of both testing modalities were sent to referring physicians.

Outcome Measures: Electronystagmography and posturography results.

Results: When electronystagmography results were compared with BalanceTrak findings, a majority of patients whose electronystagmography findings indicated central and mixed causes, or peripheral lesions other than benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, had abnormal findings on posturography. Specifically, tests similar to the Balance Master Sensory Organization Tests 4 and 5 and a new test, Limits of Stability, presented the most difficulty for these individuals. Patients with normal electronystagmography findings and those with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo had mixed results on posturography. The results for specific individual electronystagmography tests were compared with those of posturography tests. No correlation was noted among any of the electronystagmography results and posturography findings. Furthermore, no correlation was observed between posturography and the causes of dizziness.

Conclusion: For many patients with dizziness and/or balance dysfunctions, posturography can provide additional information to that obtained with electronystagmography. This is especially apparent in individuals who have these symptoms but have normal or borderline normal electronystagmography findings.