The sole purpose of this book is to get more and more neurologists interested in the discipline of neuro-otology for proper management of patients with vertigo and balance disorders.
The book is divided into three sections.
Section 1 deals with the basics which include anatomical and physiological basis of maintenance of human balance, vestibular and cerebellar control of eye movements, classification of vestibular disorders, elicitation of proper history in patients presenting with vertigo and finally a step-wise physical examination and lastly a commentary on currently practiced vestibular function tests. Section 2 is the case study section. Forty-six cases are discussed in a very interactive way with the case history and findings detailed first followed by the investigations performed and the results of therapy, when applicable. This clinical note is followed by a series of questions which are likely to crop up in the minds of the readers after going through the case. The final section is the discussion, embedded in which would lie the answers to all the questions raised, along with other relevant and up to date information on the subject discussed. This section includes around 10 cases of posterior circulation strokes presenting with vertigo which have been discussed in way of clinico-anatomical and clinico-radiological correlation an essential part of training to be a neurologist. No very detailed referencing had been done considering the time constraint for busy medical practitioners and trainees, and only few major ones are listed at the end of each case/chapter for those interested in more detailed discourses. In relation to the cases, many of the vestibular function tests performed on them are discussed in a lucid manner to make correlation of clinical history and function tests easily understandable. Section 3 mostly discusses management issues. Apart from the medical management of vertiginous disorders (including some detailing of drug pharmacology), detailed descriptions of canalith repositioning techniques for BPPV are provided. This section also includes a commentary on vertigo in posterior circulation strokes which would be of great interest to neurologists and trainees.
