OCULAR TORSION MONITORING IN CHEMICAL LABYRINTHECTOMY

Objective: To study the usefulness of ocular torsion analysis as an ad junct to examining central vestibular compensation. Design: Prospectiv e evaluation. Setting: The Vestibular Disorders Clinic, University of Manitoba Health Sciences Centre. Methods: Seven patients with intracta ble Meniere's disease underwent elective transtympanic gentamycin laby rinthectomy. Serial examination of patient progress was performed usin g fundus photography, subjective visual vertical estimations, electron ystagmography, and audiometry. Results: Ocular torsion analysis reveal s unexpected initial and early contraversive torsion behaviour in some patients, which may represent an early irritative phenomenon stemming from either the gentamicin or the Meniere's disease itself. Conclusio n: Despite the sensitivity of the ocular torsion measures, there appea rs to be no useful predictive correlation between ocular torsion and a udiometric functioning that might predict impending hearing loss. Neve rtheless, ocular torsion analysis reveals subtle changes in vestibular system functioning and may provide useful adjunctive information in t he assessment of vestibular ototoxicity.