[Value of vestibular symptomatology in the differential diagnosis of slight closed injury to the skull and brain].

The authors performed otoneurological studies in 1118 cases, where in 152 such examinations were done repeatedly (on the 2, 7, 14 and 20 day following the brain trauma). One of the methods was a calorization of the labyrinth with a registration of the nystagm. A modified method (after A. A. Serdtseva) was used to study the optokinetic nystagm (the nystagm registration was done before and after labyrinth calorization). This method permitted to detect larvated disorders of the optokinetic nystagm, making it possible to differentiate the signs of mild brain concussion and contusion. These symptoms are not discernible neurologically and may facilitate the determination of the side of the heaviest damage during contusion.