Abraham Eviatar

Maturation of Neurovestibular Responses in Infants

A total of 121 babies were tested for the appearance of vestibular responses (nystagmus) within 10 and 75 days of birth. The babies were divided into two groups according to gestational age: full‐term (38 to 42 weeks gestation) and pre‐term (34 to 37 weeks gestation). These two groups were sub‐divided according to birthweight into small for gestational age (sga), appropriate for gestational age (aga) and large for gestational age (lga). Vestibular responses were elicited by per‐rotatory stimulation (using a torsion swing) and by ice‐cold caloric stimulation.

Repair of Nasal Septal Perforations with Tragal Cartilage and Perichondrium Grafts

Indications for repair of nasal septum perforations include excessive crusting, recurrent bleeding, whistling, and pain. Large subtotal perforations usually are less symptomatic, but smaller defects (less than 1 cm) may need repair. Tragal cartilage with perichondrium autograft was used to repair these perforations. After the septal defect was debrided, this free graft was harvested and used to fill the defect. This technique was attempted in ten patients with septal perforations, none secondary to systemic Illnesses. Nine of these patients had successful closure of their perforations.

Aminoglycoside ototoxicity in the neonatal period: possible etiologic factor delayed postural control.

Forty-three infants, treated with aminoglycosides during the neonatal period, were tested repeatedly over a period of two to five years for neurovestibular responses. Results of testing were compared with those obtained from a group of 276 healthy newborns followed simultaneously. No abnormalities were found in the untreated group. Among the treated infants, three had a sensorineural hearing loss and eight had laboratory evidence of vestibular dysfunction and delay of head and postural control.

Vertigo in childhood. Comments on pathogenesis and management

The Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Fulton Avenue at 169th Street, Bronx, N.Y. 10456. * From the Department of Pediatrics, The Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center. † From the Department of Otolaryngology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This work is supported in part by PHS Research Grant No. NS-10238-01 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness. V ESTIBI7LAR DYSFUNCTION in children can present itself in a variety of ways. In early infancy, delayed maturation or congenital dysfunction of the vestibular system may slow down motor development. From 16 months on, the most common cause of vestibular dysfunction is a self-limited disorder known as benign paroxysmal vertigo. From six years on, vestibular dysfunction is most often related to seizure disorders. Dizziness is a familiar and nonspecific symptom, whereas vertigo which is described by the patient as a sudden sensation of swirling of himself or of his surroundings is

Development of Head Control and Vestibular Responses in Infants Treated with Aminoglycosides

Forty‐three infants who had been treated with aminoglycosides for neonatal sepsis were tested for acquisition of head control and vestibular nystagmus induced by changes in position, perrotatory stimulation with a torsion swing, and caloric irrigation of the ear canals. 13 non‐treated premature infants served as controls: they provided normative data on acquisition of head control, postural control and vestibular responses. Nine of the 43 treated infants had multiple abnormalities on vestibular testing and delayed acquisition of head control, which suggests that vestibular dysfunction may contribute to delay in acquisition of head control. Infants with ‘static encephalopathy’ following neonatal sepsis treated with aminoglycosides should be tested for possible vestibular dysfunction.