Post head injury vertigo

Abstract Post Head Injury Vertigo (PHIV) is a common symptom after head trauma and is a part of post-concussion syndrome. The causes of vertigo can be varied. A study was aimed to: (a) Clinically classify pure PHIV into various groups depending on the severity of disability produced by the vertigo and, (b) To evolve a treatment protocol for PHIV. A new classification of PHIV was proposed, based on its severity, ranging from Grade I to Grade IV, Grade IA being of least severe manifestation. A total of 53 patients of mild head injury having PHIV were analysed, consisting of 32 males and 21 females with age ranging between 18 and 62. Eight patients of PHIV fell in Grade IA, 10 in Grade IB, 26 in Grade II, 8 in Grade III and 1 was in Grade IV. The mean number of hospital visits increased with the severity of vertigo with Grade IA having a mean of 1.5 visits and Grade IV having a mean of 24 visits. Though the dosage of medication and its duration was not always proportional to the grade of vertigo but Grade III and IV patients needed prolonged medications, sometimes with more than one drug. The higher grades of PHIV were supplemented with vestibular rehabilitation exercises. In conclusion, the present study is the first one of its kind attempting to classify PHIV into various grades depending on its severity. The grading system can help the clinician to plan the approximate duration of treatment and also prognosticate PHIV.