[Cervical electrostimulation in some vestibular diseases].

Vestibular disorders may be treated by means of drugs, surgical tools or rehabilitation. Cervical electrostimulation may be regarded as physical therapy and its activity is connected to neural pathways between cervical receptors and vestibular nuclei. In present study electrodes were placed lateral to cervical column on the opposite side of vestibular deficit as pointed by electronystagmography; stimulus duration was 18 msec and frequency 100 Hz. Every stimulation lasts for 30 minutes and were repeated twice a week for a total number of 10. The ability to adjust vestibulo-ocular reflex was evaluated by means of a Compensatory Index. The following materials were enrolled in the study: 20 normal subjects were observed before and after a cycle of stimulations: 24 patients suffering from acute labyrinthitis or neuritis, 48 cervical vertigo, 8 cervical traumatic injures and 3 patients operated for acoustical neuroma. All these groups were coupled with control groups composed of the same pathology and the same number of subjects. Statistical treatment of reports was evaluated by t-student test before therapy after one month and after 3 months. Results point out good effects of electrostimulation on vestibulo-ocular reflex compensation, especially in cervical vertigo and labyrinthitis or neuritis with respect to control groups. No important results were obtained in neuroma group and in normal subjects. Electrostimulation may act on vestibular nuclei by direct spino-vestibular pathway but also by repeated decompensations mainly mediated via the cerebellum or spino-reticular connections.