Correlation between VEMP (Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials) and Vestibular Ratio of Posturography in Patients with Vertigo

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether there is correlation between result of VEMP and vestibular ratio of posturography, and also to investigate if VEMP can show diagnostic efficiency in patients with vertigo. METHOD: Thirty-two patients whose BAEP test showed normal latency were included after patients whose somatosensory ratio and visual ratio from posturography showed abnormality were excluded. Ten healthy participants were set up as control group. We made comparison between P13 latency in VEMP and vestibular ratio posturography among these participants. RESULTS: Among the participants 47% showed normal P13 latency, and 53% showed abnormal P13 latency. In normal P13 latency group, 86.7% of patients showed normal vestibular ratio, and in abnormal P13 latency group, 70.6% of patients showed abnormal vestibular ratio. CONCLUSION: VEMP showed high correlation between vestibular ratio of posturography. VEMP can be used in screening test and clinically complementary diagnostic method of vestibular function test for patients with vertigo.

Noninvasive Reduction of Fractures of Pubis and Separation of Symphysis Pubis by Circumferential Pelvic Belt: A case report

Early reduction and stabilization of the pelvic bone after traumatic unstable pelvic bone fracture is the most effective method to control life-threatening bleeding and reduce late complication. In this study, we compared the effect of the non-invasive pelvic belt on various positions, and studied the effects of weight bearing and shifting during walking on pelvic belt position. Case 1) separation of symphysis pubis; Case 2) fracture of the superior and inferior ramus of the right pubis; Case 3) fractures of the superior and inferior ramus of both pubis and separation of symphysis pubis. Pelvic belt was prescribed in all three cases. Pelvic belt reduction reduced the distance between fracture line by 40~60% at all levels. Therefore, pelvic belt reduction is recommended as a non-invasive, safe and effective rehabilitative treatment for pelvic bone fracture patients to restore function without pain or secondary injury.

Attenuation of Self-biting in Spinal Cord Injury by Functional Upper Extremity Surgery and Gabapentin Administration: A case report

The prevalence of self-mutilation behavior after spinal cord injury is not known. However, self-biting of fingers after spinal cord injury is a rare phenomenon. We report a case of 51-year-old man self-biting of fingers, resulting in multiple finger amputation following C5 complete spinal cord injury. We believe this to be the first Korean report of multiple finger amputation due to self-biting following spinal cord injury. The mutilative self-biting was related to depression and central pain of upper extremity. After operation for tendon transfer of brachioradialis to extensor carpi radialis brevis, his feeding skills and driving skills on electric-powered wheelchair had been improved, and then, his self-biting of fingers had been diminished. The patient has been temperate in self-biting behavior after administration of gabapentin. In our case, functional improvement of upper extremity by functional surgery and central pain relief by gabapentin provided attenuation of mutilative self-biting behavior.