Diagnosis and treatment of 49 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Abstract

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Methods Fority-nine patients with BPPV were diagnosised between September 2007 and October 2009. After the type and the effect side were determined, appropriate repositioning maneuvers were selected, posterior canal (PC) BPPV treatmented with Epley's canalith respositioning maneuver or Semont liberatory maneuver, horizonial canal (HC) BPPV with Barbecue maneuver and anterior canal (AC) involve- ment with reverse Epley's maneuver. Results Of 49 patients, 33 cases (67.3%) was in PC involvement, 12 cases (24.5%) in HC involvement, 2 cases (4.1 %) in AC involvement and 2 cases (4.1 %) in the mixed type. After follow -up of 4 to 8 months, the total cure rate was 89.8%, the improvement rate was 6.1 % and recurrence rate was 6.1 %. Conclusions Different types of BPPV incoulding variant canals can be diagnosised according to the nystagmic characteristics of the appropriate provoking maneuvers, and it is necessary to apply the appropriate repositioning maneuvers. Missed diagnosis should be avoided for multi canal involvement and accompany with sudden deafness. Key words: Positional vertigo; Vestibular disease; Semicircular canal; Canalith repositioning maneuvers