Stabilometry-Significance of Locus Length per Unit Area (L/A) in Patients with Equilibrium Disturbances- Tsuyoshi Okawa, Takashi Tokita, Yasunari Shibata Tetsuya Ogawa, Hideo Miyata 1) Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu Municipal Hospital 2) Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University School of Medicine Stabilometry was performed in 35 patients with equilibrium disturbance. In stabilometry, locus length per unit area (L/A) was examined together with sway pattern, area, deviation of the center of sway and Romberg's coefficient. Twenty-six patients demonstrated unilateral labyrinth disturbance, 6 cerebellar and brain stem disturbance, and 3 Parkinson's disease. 1) In the acute stage of unilateral labyrinth disturbance, stabilogram indicated right-left sway, large area, deviation of the sway to the affected side, and Romberg's coefficient exceeded the reference intervals. The L/A was decreased. 2) In the chronic stage of unilateral labyrinth disturbance, stabilogram indicated cen tripetal sway, small area, deviation of sway and Romberg's coefficient was within the reference intervals. The L/A was increased. 3) In a patient with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), stabilogram indicated forward-backward sway, a small sway, deviation of sway to the right-forward, and Romberg's coefficient was within the reference intervals. The L/A remained nearly normal. 4) In another patient with SCD, stabilogram indicated diffuse sway, large sway, devia tion of sway and Romberg's coefficient was within the reference intervals. The L/A was only slightly decreased. 5) In the patient with vertebrobasilar insufficiency, stabilogram indicated diffuse sway, large area, deviation of sway in the forward direction, and Romberg's coefficinet was slightly elevated. The L/A was only slightly decreased. 6) In Parkinson's disease with rigidity and akinesia, stabilogram indicated forwardbackward sway, relatively small area, deviation of sway and Romberg's coefficient was within the reference intervals. The L/A was only slightly increased.
Equilibrium Res Vol. 55(3) 7) In Parkinson's disease with postural disturbances, stabilometry indicated diffuse sway, large area, deviation of sway in the right-forward direction, and Romberg's coefficient was within the reference intervals. The L/A was decreased. The L/A indicated fine control of standing posture by proprioceptive reflexes: And examination of L/A was useful in demonstrating the lesion site of patients with equilibrium disturbances. Key words: locus length per unit area, stabilometry, labyrinthine disturbance, spinocerebellar degeneration, Parkinson's disease
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