Vestibular compensation in cerebellar stroke patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is little evidence about the site where compensatory vestibular mechanisms in patients with cerebellar strokes take place.

METHODS

To determine whether the location of a cerebellar lesion might be a crucial variable in vestibular compensation a sample of 22 patients with cerebellar stroke were tested for graviceptive function in the acute and chronic stage.

RESULTS

Our statistical anatomical lesion analysis indicated that mainly lesions of the cerebellar hemispheres (lobule V, VI, VIIa) hinder vestibular compensation and might lead to an overcompensation.

CONCLUSIONS

Overcompensation-induced dysfunction can be explained by the absence of cerebellar inhibitory signals.