The AAO Journal, 1999/09, 9(3):21-24, 37-43, type of study: ,cr,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.academyofosteopathy.org/assets/aaoj/AAOJ_Fall1999.pdf)

Keywords:

brain [108]
case report [736]
hearing loss [15]
injury [113]
male [861]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
tinnitus [22]
trauma [125]
vertigo [34]

Abstract:

Two patients were referred to the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine with a diagnosis of bilateral Meniere's disease. Both patients had undergone extensive medical testing. Neither had responded to conventional treatments for their episodic vertigo, nausea, tinnitus, aural pressure and hearing loss. We were consulted to determine whether there was a structural component contributing to the disease process. Both patients were found to have extensive histories of closed-head injuries. This resulted in the author making a subsequent diagnosis of Meniere's syndrome secondary to multiple traumatic head injuries. Both patients had additional neuromuscular dysfunctions that presented with significant biomechanical abnormalities. Primary treatment included manual manipulation of structural dysfunctions by the author aimed at improving the symptoms and decreasing the frequency of attacks experienced by the patients. After three months of treatment with a mean number of eight treatments, both patients had reported a decrease in episodes of severe vertigo with nausea and vomiting. One patient reported a reduction in vertigo with Fall 1999 head and neck rotation from constant to episodes of 5 to 7 times in a two to three week period; in addition, the vertigo was less intense during the episodes. This same patient experienced complete resolution of headache and neck pain for three weeks after the frrst treatment. Subsequently, when an episode of headache with neck pain did occur it was reported as less intense. Both patients were referred for neuroophthalmologic evaluation. One patient was referred for acupuncture. Osteopathic manipulation to reduce the structural dysfunction improved some of the symptoms and frequency but did not entirely resolve the symptoms of Meniere's syndrome.