Research Article

A Balance Test for Chronic Perilymph Fistula

Table 1

Twenty patients with a surgically confirmed PLF.

PatientSexAgeSymptoms ForEar SiteRepairPreceding eventSymptomsFollowup

1F514 yrLeftOW (FA)CT NilDisequilibrium to left; nausea; subtle memory difficulty; normal hearing23 yr

2F51 5 moRight RWCTFainted concussionDisequilibrium to right; motion intolerance, tinnitus right ear; normal hearing22 yr

3F356 moLeftOW (FA)CT 2 whiplash injuries Acute otitis media vertigo + vomiting disequilibrium to left; nausea; motion intolerance; subtle memory difficulty; normal hearing21 yr

4F598 moRightOW (FA)CT Nil Disequilibrium to right; nausea; motion intolerance; subtle memory difficulty; normal hearing20 yr

5F401 yrLeftOW (FA)CTFace hit by cricket ball; knocked down by a sheepVertigo after acute otitis media; disequilibrium to left; nausea; motion intolerance; subtle memory difficulty; normal hearing20 yr

6F373 moLeftOW (central footplate)CT Nil Acute otitis media disequilibrium to left; motion sickness; subtle memory difficulty; normal hearing20 yr

7F63 15 yrLeftOW (FA)CTMVA whiplashDisequilibrium to left, nausea, motion intolerance, tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss left ear. Positive Hennerbert's test.19 yr; see Table 2

8F196 moLeftRWCT + glueStruck over left ear by milking cupsDisequilibrium to left; nausea; motion sickness; subtle memory difficulty; normal hearing17 yr
F281 yrRightRWCT + glueConcussion and whiplashSame symptoms9 yr

9F532 yrRightRWCT + glueNilDisequilibrium to right; nausea; motion intolerance; tinnitus right ear; normal hearing16 yr

10F451 yrLeftRW (air bubble)CT + glue NilDisequilibrium to left; nausea; subtle memory difficulty; normal hearing16 yr

11F3418 moRightRWCT + glueNilDisequilibrium to right; nausea; motion sickness; popping tinnitus right ear; normal hearing15 yr

12F406 moLeftOW (FA)CT + gluePunched on left earDisequilibrium to left; nausea; motion sickness; tinnitus left ear; normal hearing13 yr

13F406 moRight OW (FA)CT + glueNurse. Hit head on bed frameDisequilibrium to right; nausea; motion sickness; subtle memory difficulty; normal hearing12 yr

14F26 7 yr; worse 9 moLeftOW (FA)CT + glueRecent head injury; previous whiplash and prior fall from horse head injuryDisequilibrium to left; nausea; motion intolerance; tinnitus left ear; normal hearing11 yr

15F4210 yrLeftOW (FA)CT + glueWhiplash in train crashDisequilibrium to left; falls; nausea; motion intolerance; normal hearing9 yr

16F783 yrRightOW (FA)CT + glue Fall from a horse; mastoidectomy at age 2 yr Disequilibrium to right; motion intolerance; mixed hearing loss right ear 7 yr

17F633 yrLeft OW (FA)
(+crack in footplate)
CT + glueNil Disequilibrium to left; nausea; motion sickness; normal hearing 6 yr

18F616 mo LeftRWCT + glue Mastoidectomy presenting as meningitis 13 yr prior Disequilibrium to left; nausea; motion intolerance; tinnitus; left mastoid cavity; no hearing left ear 6 yr

19F4717 moLeftOW (FA)CT + glue MVA whiplash injuryDisequilibrium to left; nausea; motion intolerance; Nausea from loud sounds; normal hearing 6 yr

20F328 moLeft OW (crack in footplate)CT + glueHead injury in fall from horse Disequilibrium to left; nausea; nausea from vestibular therapy; normal hearing4 yr later repair small drum perforation.

RW: round window, OW: oval window, FA: fissula ante fenestram, CT: connective tissue.