Correlation between Berg Balance Scale and Sensory Organization Test of Computerized Dynamic Posturography in Brain Injured Patients

OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation between Berg balance scale (BBS) which is tool for assessing the clinical balance function and sensory organization test (SOT) of computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) in brain injured patients. METHOD: Thirty patients with brain injury were assessed on the BBS and SOT of CDP. BBS consists of 14 items and each item is graded on a five point ordinal scale (0~4), yielding a total of 56 points. According to its characteristics, each item was divided 3 groups, which were sitting, standing and position change. Six equilibrium scores (EQ) were determined by SOT of CDP (EquiTest System , Version 5.08) under 6 conditions, and somatosensory, visual, vestibular ratios were analyzed by 6 EQ scores. RESULTS: EQ 5 was correlated with reaching forward item (r=0.513), turning 360 degrees item (r=0.537), stool stepping item (r=0.529) of BBS (p<0.01). EQ 6 was correlated with turning 360 degrees item (r=0.498) of BBS (p<0.01). Sum of standing item group scores was correlated with EQ 5 (r=0.478), EQ 6 (r=0.464), and sum of position change item scores was correlated with EQ 5 (r=0.622), EQ 6 (r=0.514) (p<0.01). Vestibular ratio was correlated with BBS total score (r=0.552, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: We concluded that vestibular ratio of SOT was correlated with BBS, especially position change item group. Therefore BBS is a good tool for evaluating vestibular function in brain injured patients.

Poland's Syndrome: Two cases report

Poland's syndrome is a congenital and unilateral aplasia of the pectoralis major muscle with other anomalies of the ipsilateral upper extremity. It was first described in 1841 by Alfred Poland. The syndrome is not hereditary and its origin is unknown. The clinical features are various but all patients have absence of at least the sternal head of the pectoralis major muscle. We present 2 cases in which the only clinical expression was asymmetry of the breasts associated with complete or partial absence of the pectoralis major and minor muscles.