Sandbox:ZMalik
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Vertigo Microchapters |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Zehra Malik, M.B.B.S[2]
Overview
Common physical examination findings associated with vertigo include nystagus hearing impairment , vision changes, and imbalance.
Physical Examination
Physical examination of patients with vertigo is usually remarkable for nystagmus, hearing impairment, nausea, imbalance, vision changes.
Appearance of the Patient
- Patients with vertigo have variable general appearance depending on the underlying etiology.
- Unsteady gait (cerebellar involvement), sensitivity to motion/light/smell/noise (vestibular migraine) could be observed.
Vital Signs
- Blood pressure should be assessed to rule out orthostatic hypotension.
- Hyperthermia could be associated with vestibular neuronitis, herpes zoster oticus, acute labyrinthitis.
Skin
- Skin examination of patients with vertigo is usually normal. However, any signs of trauma should be assessed.
HEENT
- HEENT examination of patients with vertigo is very important. Following examinations should be performed in every patient presenting with vertigo:
- Otoscopic Exam: Can identify cholesteatoma, herpes zoster oticus(vesicles on tympanic membrane), acute otitis media.
- Hennebert’s sign, pushing tragus provokes vertigo or nystagmus on the affected side in patients with perilymphatic fistula.[1]
- Hearing: Weber or Rinne's test is done in the clinic or at the bedside to determine if it is conductive or sensorineural hearing loss.
- HINTS: Head Impulse, Nystagmus, Test of Skew (cover/uncover test) to identify if the cause of vestibular neuritis is central or peripheral.[2]
- Look for evidence of trauma.
- Nystagmus assessment is an important feature to distinguish peripheral from the central cause of vertigo:[3]
- Peripheral: Horizontal nystagmus with a torsional component, adaptive.
- Central: Could be in any direction horizontal, vertical, or torsional, non- adaptive.
- Dix-Hallpike maneuver is used to diagnose benign paroxysmal positional vertigo[4]. Dix-Hallpike maneuver can also differentiate between central and peripheral, the intensity of induced symptom decreases with repeated maneuvers in peripheral but less likely to decrease if the lesion is central in origin.[5]
Neck
- Neck examination of patients with vertigo is usually normal. However, any signs of trauma should be assessed.
Lungs
- Pulmonary examination of patients with vertigo is usually normal.
Heart
- Cardiovascular examination of the patients with vertigo should include heart rate and rhythm, pulse, blood pressure, carotid bruit, orthostatic blood pressure measurement.
Abdomen
- Abdominal examination of patients with vertigo is usually normal.
Back
- Back examination of patients with [disease name] is usually normal.
OR
- Point tenderness over __ vertebrae (e.g. L3-L4)
- Sacral edema
- Costovertebral angle tenderness bilaterally/unilaterally
- Buffalo hump
Genitourinary
- Genitourinary examination of patients with vertigo is usually normal.
Neuromuscular
- Neuromuscular examination of patients with [disease name] is usually normal.
OR
- Patient is usually oriented to persons, place, and time
- Altered mental status
- Glasgow coma scale is ___ / 15
- Clonus may be present
- Hyperreflexia / hyporeflexia / areflexia
- Positive (abnormal) Babinski / plantar reflex unilaterally/bilaterally
- Muscle rigidity
- Proximal/distal muscle weakness unilaterally/bilaterally
- ____ (finding) suggestive of cranial nerve ___ (roman numerical) deficit (e.g. Dilated pupils suggestive of CN III deficit)
- Unilateral/bilateral upper/lower extremity weakness
- Unilateral/bilateral sensory loss in the upper/lower extremity
- Positive straight leg raise test
- Abnormal gait (describe gait: e.g. ataxic (cerebellar) gait / steppage gait / waddling gait / choeiform gait / Parkinsonian gait / sensory gait)
- Positive/negative Trendelenburg sign
- Unilateral/bilateral tremor (describe tremor, e.g. at rest, pill-rolling)
- Normal finger-to-nose test / Dysmetria
- Absent/present dysdiadochokinesia (palm tapping test)
Extremities
- Extremities examination of patients with [disease name] is usually normal.
OR
- Clubbing
- Cyanosis
- Pitting/non-pitting edema of the upper/lower extremities
- Muscle atrophy
- Fasciculations in the upper/lower extremity
References
- ↑ Rosenberg, Michael L.; Gizzi, Martin (2000). "NEURO-OTOLOGIC HISTORY". Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 33 (3): 471–482. doi:10.1016/S0030-6665(05)70221-8. ISSN 0030-6665.
- ↑ Tarnutzer, A. A.; Berkowitz, A. L.; Robinson, K. A.; Hsieh, Y.-H.; Newman-Toker, D. E. (2011). "Does my dizzy patient have a stroke? A systematic review of bedside diagnosis in acute vestibular syndrome". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 183 (9): E571–E592. doi:10.1503/cmaj.100174. ISSN 0820-3946.
- ↑ Kaski D, Seemungal BM (2010). "The bedside assessment of vertigo". Clin Med (Lond). 10 (4): 402–5. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.10-4-402. PMC 4952176. PMID 20849021.
- ↑ Hanley K, O' Dowd T (2002). "Symptoms of vertigo in general practice: a prospective study of diagnosis". Br J Gen Pract. 52 (483): 809–12. PMC 1316083. PMID 12392120.
- ↑ Büttner U, Helmchen C, Brandt T (1999). "Diagnostic criteria for central versus peripheral positioning nystagmus and vertigo: a review". Acta Otolaryngol. 119 (1): 1–5. doi:10.1080/00016489950181855. PMID 10219377.