Article

PURPOSE: To confirm whether detailed gait analysis can detect gait instability in
patients with small vestibular schwannoma (VS) with an apparently normal gait.
METHODS: Twenty-two patients (7 males, 15 females; 40-64 years old) with small VS
and nine healthy age- and weight-matched controls were enrolled. Small VS was
defined as the longest diameter less than 20mm from the porus acusticus internus
on MRI with no brainstem compression. Each subject was asked to walk straight for
a distance of 8m with tactile sensors attached to both feet, and repeat two
trials with eyes open and closed. Gait variables of stance, swing, double
support, stability, and average length of the trajectories of the center of force
(TCOF) during stance were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: No significant
differences in the stability of the TCOF were found during gaits with eyes open
and closed between the two groups. No obvious changes in gait variables were
recognized with eyes open between the two groups. However, under gait with eyes
closed, the values of the coefficient of variation (CV) of the gait phase were
significantly greater in stance and swing in the VS group than in the normal
group. In addition, patients with canal paresis (CP) showed greater CV values in
gait phase related parameters than those who without CP during gait with eyes closed.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with small VS may have an apparently normal gait,
but their vestibular deficit could be detected by proper use of gait analysis,
especially with visual deprivation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS