Vestibular neuritis: is there any evidence of an asymmetric distribution?

Statistics in the literature showed that neuro-otological diseases (i.e. sudden hearing loss or tinnitus) occur predominantly in the left ear. In a seven-study meta-analysis of patients suffering from vestibular neuritis, Reiß found no clear dominance of one side (50.8% on the right side, 48.4% on the left side and 0.8% on both sides). The purpose of this study is to investigate the laterality of vestibular neuritis in a distinct population of patients. Lateralization of vestibular neuritis was studied in 160 patients treated at Elblandklinikum Radebeul from January 2004 to December 2009. There was a statistically non-significant dominance of the right side in the total sample, specifically in female patients (57% right vs. 40% left), but not in male patients. The study confirms the results of the meta-analysis: that there is no relevant side dominance in patients suffering from vestibular neuritis. In addition to the caloric test, the head impulse test was performed in 157 patients. In 92% of these patients, the disturbance of vestibular function could be confirmed with the head impulse test. This test is altogether a clinically useful instrument especially for follow-up, but also for diagnosis.