The causes of balance disorder are many and various, and the subjective syndrome of cranial trauma patients is diagnosed by elimination. Progress in otoneurologic functional exploration and brain imaging, however, now generally allow this functional complaint to be given an objective basis. In recent years, new diagnoses have improved recognition of such pathologies in the appraisal of corporal injury for compensation purposes. The present article seeks to detail etiology and, by a review of the literature, to determine factors liable to influence management and appraisal in particular.