OBJECTIVETo research the frequency characteristics of the semicircular canals lesion in Hunt syndrome with vertigo and the clinical value of the video head impulse test (vHIT) for vestibular function evaluated in this disease.

METHODSThirty normal persons (control group) accepted the vHIT, 26 patients with Hunt syndrome with vertigo (study group) accepted low, mid and high frequency vestibular function tests, including caloric test (CT), head shaking test (HST) and vHIT. The parameters of the unilateral weakness (UW), head shaking nystagmus (HSN) and video head impulse test gain (vHIT-G) were observed. The correlations and characteristics of the results of the three tests in Hunt syndrome with vertigo deal were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 software.

RESULTSThe values of vHIT-G of the six groups semicircular canal in the control group were normal distribution without statistical significance (F = 0.005, P < 0.01), two sides anterior, horizontal and posterior semicircular canals vHIT-G average (x ± s) were (16.80 ± 9.80)%, (16.57 ± 10.30)%, (16.52 ± 11.12)% respectively; in the study group the separately vHIT-G of the three canals of the affected side were (46.96 ± 34.54)%, (75.35 ± 35.29)% and (41.65 ± 32.87)%, in which statistical significance comparing with the control group was detected (all P < 0.01); the positive one of the three tests vHIT, HSN and CT were 23 cases (88.46%), 22 cases (84.61%) and 24 cases (92.31%), bilateral exact probability χ² test all the P > 0.05;there were Positive correlation between UW and the vHIT-G of lateral semicircular canal (r = 0.692, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe vestibular lesion of Hunt syndrome with vertigo is almost complete or multiple-frequency, which is characterized by the reduced or even aborted nerve conduction. Therefore, vHIT can be ultimately used for the screening test evaluating due to the vestibular function in Hunt syndrome with vertigo.