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Assessing the Unterberger test: introduction of a novel smartphone application

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2014

M Whittaker ,
A Mathew ,
R Kanani  and
R G Kanegaonkar
M Whittaker*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
A Mathew
Affiliation:
King's College Medical School, London, UK
R Kanani
Affiliation:
King's College Medical School, London, UK
R G Kanegaonkar
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr M Whittaker, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE, East Sussex, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background:

Peripheral vestibular function is commonly assessed using the Unterberger test. Patients are asked to march on the spot and their extent of rotation is recorded. The sensitivity of this test depends on an assessor accurately estimating the degree of rotation. This study therefore aimed to compare observer estimates with a smartphone application (DplusR Balance) that accurately records rotation.

Method:

Twenty-five participants were asked to estimate the degree of rotation in 10 successive Unterberger tests performed by a volunteer.

Results:

The average difference between estimated and application recorded extent of rotation was 30°.

Conclusion:

Assessors poorly estimate the degree of rotation in this clinical test, to an extent sufficient to affect clinical interpretation and diagnosis. We recommend the use of this application or alternative methods to record the degree of rotation in patients.

Keywords

Postural BalanceVertigoPhysical ExaminationVestibular Apparatus
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 128 , Issue 11 , November 2014 , pp. 958 - 960
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

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Footnotes

Presented as a poster at 9th British Society of Neuro-Otology meeting, 11 October 2013, London, UK

References

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