The Effect of Spinal Tap Test on Different Sensory Modalities of Postural Stability in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Overview

Journal Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra

Publisher Karger

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2016 Oct 30

PMID 27790243

Citations 9

Authors

Katrin Abram

Silvia Bohne

Peter Bublak

Panagiota Karvouniari

Carsten M Klingner

Otto W Witte

Orlando Guntinas-Lichius

Hubertus Axer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background/aims: Postural instability in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a most crucial symptom leading to falls with secondary complications. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of spinal tap on postural stability in these patients.

Methods: Seventeen patients with clinical symptoms of NPH were examined using gait scale, computerized dynamic posturography (CDP), and neuropsychological assessment. Examinations were done before and after spinal tap test.

Results: The gait score showed a significant improvement 24 h after spinal tap test in all subtests and in the sum score (p < 0.003), while neuropsychological assessment did not reveal significant differences 72 h after spinal tap test. CDP showed significant improvements after spinal tap test in the Sensory Organization Tests 2 (p = 0.017), 4 (p = 0.001), and 5 (p = 0.009) and the composite score (p = 0.01). Patients showed best performance in somatosensory and worst performance in vestibular dominated tests. Vestibular dominated tests did not improve significantly after spinal tap test, while somatosensory and visual dominated tests did.

Conclusion: Postural stability in NPH is predominantly affected by deficient vestibular functions, which did not improve after spinal tap test. Conditions which improved best were mainly independent from visual control and are based on proprioceptive functions.

Citing Articles

Technological Advances for Gait and Balance in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Systematic Review.

Zampogna A, Patera M, Falletti M, Pinola G, Asci F, Suppa A Bioengineering (Basel). 2025; 12(2).

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Distinctive features of bimanual coordination in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Umemori T, Kobayashi K, Watanabe R, Higuchi T Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2024; 166(1):485.

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'Watkins' & 'Watkins2.0': Smart phone applications (Apps) for gait-assessment in normal pressure hydrocephalus and decompensated long-standing overt ventriculomegaly.

Tariq K, Thorne L, Toma A, Watkins L Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2024; 166(1):386.

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Profiling iNPH features through cluster analysis: an aid for clinical suspicion and diagnosis.

Mazza L, Giannini G, Pirina A, Milletti D, Magelli E, Ievoli R Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2024; 166(1):373.

PMID: 39298012 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-024-06271-z.

The investigation of the gait parameter alterations in response to levodopa therapy and tap test in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Onder H, Poyraz U, Comoglu S Neurol Sci. 2022; 43(12):6813-6820.

PMID: 36040560 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06361-9.

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