Eye and Head Deviation in Acute Stroke Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Monika Fruhmann Berger, Rebekka Proß, Uwe J. Ilg, Hans-Otto Karnath
Primary Institution: University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Hypothesis
Does eye and head deviation occur in patients with acute left or right hemisphere stroke, and is it related to spatial neglect?
Conclusion
Eye and head deviation observed shortly after a stroke is specifically linked to spatial neglect rather than being a general symptom of right hemisphere lesions.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with spatial neglect showed a significant rightward deviation of gaze, eye-in-head, and head-on-trunk positions.
- The average gaze position in neglect patients was 46° to the right, while other groups were close to the midline.
- Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between neglect patients and those without neglect.
Takeaway
When someone has a stroke, their eyes and head might turn to one side, especially if they have trouble paying attention to the other side. This can help doctors figure out if they have a condition called spatial neglect.
Methodology
The study measured eye-in-head and head-on-trunk positions in 33 patients with acute unilateral stroke using electrooculography and a graphometer.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of patients with left hemisphere stroke and the small sample size.
Limitations
The study did not include patients with left hemisphere stroke who exhibited spatial neglect, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 8 patients with right hemisphere lesions and spatial neglect, 9 with right hemisphere lesions without neglect, 16 with left hemisphere stroke without neglect, and 15 healthy subjects.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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