Chronic recurring vertigo and or imbalance can occur after major or minor head injury.

Some patients after [1] major or minor head injury have [2] chronic or recurring vertigo or imbalance. Several potential causes exist. Injury to the neck can cause “cervical vertigo/dysequilibrium”, see other discussion on this website of that disorder. The trauma which causes brain concussion can also[3] bruise the inner ear or cause inner ear contusion. Vestibular symptoms from head injury [4] can be lasting. A recently described entity called dehiscent superior semicircular canal can be part of the problem. In the latter circumstance, a head injury can transmit energy through a rare naturally occuring hole in the upper balance canal, injuring the inner ear balance systems. Other ear trauma can also cause imbalance and position change induced dizziness. Many of these patients have puzzling problems which [5] can affect ability to return to work but many of the more [6] mildly injured persons do return to pre-injury activity.

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