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Alcohol-dependent unilateral vestibular impairment persisting after a closed head injury

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Summary

A 20-year-old man suffered a closed head in-jury followed by symptoms of right-sided labyrinthine concussion with complete clinical recovery within 3 weeks. Episodic vertigo and ataxic gait occurred after the ingestion of small amounts of alcohol over the next 2 years. Electro-oculography revealed a right-sided peripheral type vestibular lesion, only after taking alcohol. This was interpreted as an alcohol-induced impairment of central compensation following an incomplete recovery from right-sided labyrinthine trauma.

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Thömke, F., Vogt, T. & Hopf, H.C. Alcohol-dependent unilateral vestibular impairment persisting after a closed head injury. J Neurol 237, 326–327 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314754

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314754

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