Dix-Hallpike Research Articles

Correlation between nystagmus intensity and vestibular-ocular reflex gain in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: A prospective, clinical study.

Video head impulse test (vHIT) and videonystagmography (VNG) provide significant benefits in evaluating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and determining the semicircular canal localization of the otoconia. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) gains measured via vHIT and the slow-phase velocity (SPV) of nystagmus in patients with the posterior semicircular canal (PSCC)-BPPV. Sixty-two patients were included in this study and divided into the study (n = 32, patients with isolated PSCC-BPPV) and control (n = 30, age- and sex-matched healthy individuals) groups. While VOR gains were measured with vHIT in both groups and compared between groups, the SPV values of nystagmus observed during the Dix-Hallpike maneuver in the study group were recorded using VNG and compared with the VOR gains of the study group. There were significant differences in posterior canal VOR gains between the study and control groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Although the affected PSCC had decreased VOR gains versus the control group, it was still within the normal range. However, there was no significant relationship between the VOR gains of the affected PSCC and the SPV of the nystagmus. vHIT can help detect semicircular canal dysfunction in patients with PSCC-BPPV. The SPV values of nystagmus on VNG during the Dix-Hallpike maneuver do not correlate with the level of VOR gain.

DIX HALLPIKE METHOD CLINICALLY VERSUS DIX HALLPIKE METHOD BY VIDEONYSTAGMOGRAPHY IN DIAGNOSIS OF THE PATIENTS WITH VERTIGO

Background: Vertigo is an illness that needs a multidisciplinary approach and is one of the most common primary problems, among the elderly. Symptoms and indications are sometimes imprecise, non-speci฀c, and difficult to characterize but Patients may characterize their vertigo symptoms using phrases such as disequilibrium, unsteadiness, dizziness, and light headedness. Dix hallpike test is done for diagnosis of vertigo and Nystagmus is measured for both its latency and duration. Intense Vertigo, sometimes accompanied by nystagmus that begins after a brief lag, is a favourable response. Nystagmus, a type of involuntary eye movement, is also measured via a technique known as videonystagmography (VNG). The Aim here is to assess the role of Videonystagmography and Dix-Hallpike test in the diagnosis of patients with vertigo and do a comparative analysis. A Prospective Observational Materials and Methods: Study over a period of 1year with inpatients and outpatients at ENT Department, SMCH. The VNG was fo Results: und to be more efficient than Dix-Hallpike clinical method for diagnosis of BPPV. The overall diagnostic a Conclusion: ccuracy is greatly improved by VNG based Dix-Hallpike test.

Clinical Characteristics of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Positive on Bilateral Dix-Hallpike Test

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) which showed torsional nystagmus on bilateral Dix-Hallpike test, and to analyze the clinical features of pseudo-bilateral BPPV.Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review of a total of 341 patients diagnosed with BPPV of posterior canal (PC-BPPV). Among them, patients who showed torsional nystagmus on bilateral Dix-Hallpike test were defined as “bilateral DixHallpike positive patients,” who were classified into true- and pseudo-bilateral PC-BPPV group through analysis of nystagmus direction. And pseudo-bilateral PC-BPPV were categorized into two subtypes according to their pathomechanisms. Clinical characteristics including sex, age, underlying vestibular disorders, recurrence and the number of Epley maneuvers were analyzed. Student &lt;i&gt;t&lt;/i&gt;-test and Mann-Whitney &lt;i&gt;U&lt;/i&gt;-test were used for statistical analysis.Results: Among 341 patients, 27 patients (7.9%) were “bilateral Dix-Hallpike positive patients”. They received more Epley maneuvers than the group of unilateral PC-BPPV until the resolution of nystagmus (2.3 vs. 1.4, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;＜0.001). Fifteen patients out of 27 were diagnosed with pseudo-bilateral PC-BPPV, who were classified into two subtypes according to their pathomechanisms. The number of Epley maneuvers was not different between true- and pseudo-bilateral PC-BPPV.Conclusions: Patients with pseudo-bilateral PC-BPPV were common among “bilateral Dix-Hallpike positive patients.” For their better treatment, understanding of possible pathophysiology, accurate Dix-Hallpike test and detailed analysis of nystagmus direction are necessary.

Guideline Adherence to Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Treatment and Management in Primary Care.

To determine adherence to the 2017 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) guidelines for the management and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in primary care (PC) and compare whether key recommendations differed by sex, race, or insurance status. Retrospective chart review. Twenty-six clinic locations within a single healthcare system. Charts of 458 patients diagnosed with BPPV in PC between 2018 and 2022 were reviewed. Encounters where the diagnosis of BPPV was made were identified. From the clinical encounter note, demographics, symptomatology, management, and treatment were extracted. Nonparametric analyses were used to identify whether AAO-HNS guidelines differed regarding sex, race, or insurance status. Of 458 patients, 249 (54.4%) did not receive a diagnostic exam, and only 4 (0.9%) patients received imaging. Regarding treatment, only 51 (11.1%) received the Epley maneuver, with 263 (57.4%) receiving vestibular suppressant medication and 12.4% receiving a referral to a specialist. In regard to sex, race, or insurance status, there was no significant difference in receiving a Dix-Hallpike diagnostic maneuver, Epley maneuver, vestibular suppressant medication, imaging, or referral to a specialist. Our data suggestthat there continue to be gaps in the adherence to AAO-HNS guidelines; however, these gaps did not differ by sex, race, or insurance status. Care should be taken to increase the use of diagnostic and treatment maneuvers but decrease the use of vestibular-suppressant medications for the treatment of BPPV in PC.

Research Letter: Rate of BPPV in Patients Diagnosed With Concussion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) specifically among patients with dizziness in the rehabilitation phase of concussion recovery and to provide evidence regarding the importance of BPPV assessment in physical therapy concussion evaluations. Outpatient neurologic rehabilitation center at a suburban comprehensive rehabilitation hospital. Fifty patients diagnosed with concussion and referred to vestibular physical therapy with complaints of dizziness were tested for BPPV within their first 3 visits. In this prospective cohort study, a positive Dix-Hallpike test or Horizontal Roll test indicated the presence of BPPV. The primary outcome measure was the presence of BPPV. Additional demographic and injury-specific variables were also considered. Among secondary outcomes, patient characteristics and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores were compared on the basis of presence or absence of BPPV. Eleven participants, 22%, tested positive for BPPV. Only fall, as the mechanism of injury, was statistically significant ( P < .05), with 72.7% of those who tested positive for BPPV reporting having been injured in a fall compared with 30.8% in the negative group. Nearly half, 45%, of the participants who were positive for BPPV had resolution of their BPPV within 1 visit. This study is unique in its focus on mild traumatic brain injury in the rehabilitation phase of recovery. The results provide evidence regarding the importance of BPPV assessment in physical therapy concussion evaluations.

Comparison of the efficacy of the Epley maneuver and repeated Dix-Hallpike tests for eliminating positional nystagmus: A multicenter randomized study.

Patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the posterior canal (pc-BPPV) exhibit BPPV fatigue, where the positional nystagmus diminishes with the repeated performance of the Dix-Hallpike test (DHt). BPPV fatigue is thought to be caused by the disintegration of lumps of otoconial debris into smaller parts and can eliminate positional nystagmus within a few minutes [similar to the immediate effect of the Epley maneuver (EM)]. In this study, we aimed to show the non-inferiority of the repeated DHt to the EM for eliminating positional nystagmus after 1 week. This multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial was designed based on the CONSORT 2010 guidelines. Patients who had pc-BPPV were recruited and randomly allocated to Group A or Group B. Patients in Group A were treated using the EM, and patients in Group B were treated using repeated DHt. For both groups, head movements were repeated until the positional nystagmus had been eliminated (a maximum of three repetitions). After 1 week, the patients were examined to determine whether the positional nystagmus was still present. The groups were compared in terms of the percentage of patients whose positional nystagmus had been eliminated, with the non-inferiority margin set at 15%. Data for a total of 180 patients were analyzed (90 patients per group). Positional nystagmus had been eliminated in 50.0% of the patients in Group A compared with 47.8% in Group B. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for the difference was 14.5%, which was lower than the non-inferiority margin. This study showed the non-inferiority of repeated DHt to the EM for eliminating positional nystagmus after 1 week in patients with pc-BPPV and that even the disintegration of otoconial debris alone has a therapeutic effect for pc-BPPV. Disintegrated otoconial debris disappears from the posterior canal because it can be dissolved in the endolymph or returned to the vestibule via activities of daily living. This study provides Class II evidence of the non-inferiority of repeated DHt to the EM for eliminating positional nystagmus after 1 week. UMIN000016421.

The Impact of the Angular Head Movement’s Velocity during Diagnostic Maneuvers on Proper Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo Diagnosis and Therapy

Based on the current state of the BPPV field, there are no guidelines that specify an angular head movement's velocity (AHMV) during diagnostic maneuvers of BPPV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of AHMV during diagnostic maneuvers on proper BPPV diagnosis and therapy. The analysis covered the results obtained in 91 patients with a positive result of the Dix-Hallpike (D-H) maneuver or the roll test. The patients were divided into four groups based on values of AHMV (high 100-200°/s and low 40-70°/s) and the BPPV type (posterior: PC-BPPV or horizontal: HC-BPPV). The parameters of the obtained nystagmuses were analyzed and compared to AHMV. There was a significant negative correlation between AHMV and latency of nystagmus in all study groups. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between AHMV and both maximum slow phase velocity and average frequency of nystagmus in the PC-BPPV groups, whereas it was not observed in the HC-BPPV patients. Complete relief of symptoms was reported after 2 weeks and was better in patients diagnosed with maneuvers performed with high AHMV. High AHMV during the D-H maneuver allows the nystagmus to be more visible, increasing the sensitivity of diagnostic tests and is crucial for a proper diagnosis and therapy.

Correlation between serum vitamin D level and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo recurrence

ObjectiveBenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of dizziness in the general population. BPPV is known to be closely related to the serum vitamin D level. This study aimed to examine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and BPPV recurrence. MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted on 50 patients diagnosed with posterior and lateral canal BPPV. The diagnosis of BPPV was based on the finding of vertigo and nystagmus induced by certain head positions (The Dix–Hallpike maneuver and head roll tests). The patients were classified into BPPV recurrence (Group A) and non-recurrence groups (Group B). Otolith function was assessed by cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), and their association with vitamin D levels was evaluated. ResultsThere were 19 subjects in Group A and 31 in Group B. There were no significant differences in age, sex, cVEMP, and oVEMP between the two groups. The average vitamin D level was 12.9 ± 8.0 ng/mL for Group A and 19.2 ± 8.2 ng/mL for Group B, and the difference between the groups was significant (p = 0.011). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for BPPV recurrence with the best sensitivity and specificity, the optimal cut-off value of total serum vitamin D was determined as 12.74 ng/mL. Furthermore, reclassifying the patients based on the cut-off value showed a significantly higher recurrence rate in the group with a lower serum vitamin D level (70.5% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.007). ConclusionThis complex finding highlights the importance of measuring serum vitamin D levels to monitor and evaluate patients at risk of BPPV recurrence.

COVID-19 and Spectrum of Vestibular Dysfunctions: A Case Report

COVID-19 infection had shown to affect multiple systems. A positive COVID-19 case with multiple vestibular problems, its management and a review of the literature were reported. A 63-year-old lady who was a Category 5 COVID-19 infection patient, complicated by mild frontal stroke, left isolated mononeuropathy causing foot drop, had persistent dizziness lasting hours to days in the first month after being extubated. She underwent vestibular rehabilitation which did not resolve her vertigo. Upon presentation to the vestibular clinic at 3-months post-extubation, she complained of vertigo on changing positions lasting a few seconds with dizziness in between. Her Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) was severe, with severe abnormal Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS 21). Vestibular assessments showed oculomotor abnormalities with positive left posterior Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) on Dixhallpike test. During Epley maneuver, there was canal conversion to the anterior canal which was resolved with a deep head hanging maneuver. The canal repositioning maneuver was done in serial, and her vertigo reduced tremendously. Her Video Head Impulse Test showed abnormalities in all semicircular canals bilaterally, rotatory chair showed lateral vestibular weakness and videonystagmography showed abnormal smooth pursuit, saccade and optokinetic suggesting central lesion. Her cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential were normal reflecting normal saccular and utricular function. Tympanometry showed type A bilaterally with right mild and left mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Magnetic resonance imaging of the Internal Acoustic Meatus showed bilateral vascular loop with no cerebellopontine angle tumour. Upon review three months later, the patient was asymptomatic of vestibular complaint with normal DHI and DASS21 score. Her foot drop had also resolved. Evidence in the literature showed up to 16.8% of COVID-19 patients reported vestibular symptoms. The mechanism of this vestibular neuritis is unclear but may be similar to the pathogenesis causing anosmia or vasculopathy. International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2023 Page: S26

Positional End-Point Nystagmus during Positional Testing: Prevalence, Characteristics and Differences with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Some individuals present positional end-point nystagmus when the Dix-Hallpike tests are performed on them if they unintentionally look towards the examined ear. To describe the prevalence and the characteristics of end-point nystagmus during positional testing in healthy subjects. Sixty healthy subjects were included. Eight positional tests were performed on them, two Pagnini-McClure tests and six Dix-Hallpike tests, while keeping the eyes in different positions; one on each side. Two independent observers filled in a questionnaire about the presence of positional nystagmus, its latency, duration, direction, and sense. Of the subjects, 65% showed positional end-point nystagmus. This nystagmus had a short latency and last for as long as the head is maintained in the test position. They can show any direction or sense, but the most common are torsional clockwise in left tests and anticlockwise in right tests. Unlike BPPV, this nystagmus did not appear with the eyes in the straight-ahead position, it is asymptomatic, and its intensity does not decline.

Comparison between Epley and Gans Repositioning Maneuvers for Posterior Canal BPPV: A Randomized Controlled Trial

AbstractObjectives:Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a condition in which a patient gets severe vertigo on moving his head from one position to another. This study aims at comparing the traditional maneuver-Epley repositioning maneuver (ERM) and the newly emerged maneuver-Gans Repositioning maneuver (GRM).Design:A randomized controlled trial.Settings:Tertiary care teaching University Hospital.Participants:Posterior canal BPPV.Intervention:Two hundred and thirty-four patients with BPPV (PC-BPPV) of the posterior canal, diagnosed using the Dix-hallpike test (DH test), were recruited for the study as per random allocation. Two groups were divided by the random allocation method. One group was treated with the Epley maneuver and the other with Gans maneuver by two separate physiotherapists.Main Outcome Measures:DH test negativity (absence of vertigo and nystagmus), Vertigo Analogue Scale (VAS), and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Twenty-four hours post-treatment assessments and data analysis were conducted by another (third) therapist. A one month follow-up subjective assessment was performed.Results:Results of one-variable Chi-square tests revealed significant improvement (P&lt; .0001) in maximum (95%) patients of both groups whether subjects were given GRM or ERM. Also, objective improvement (DH test) was found in the Epley group (n = 118, 82.20%) and the Gans group (n = 116, 78.44%). Patients in both groups improved significantly with no dizziness on the VVAS scale (n = 118, 82.20%) in the Epley group and (n = 116, 78.44%) in the Gans group.Conclusion:GRM is as easy, effective, and safe maneuver as the ERM with the absence of recurrence for the treatment of posterior canal BPPV.Trial Registration:Clinical Trials Registry (CTRI/2019/10/021681).

Bilaterally Positive Dix-Hallpike Test (DHT) with Unilateral Direction-Reversing Positional Nystagmus in Patient with Apogeotropic Posterior Canal BPPV.

Bilaterally Positive Dix-Hallpike Test (DHT) with Unilateral Direction-Reversing Positional Nystagmus in Patient with Apogeotropic Posterior Canal BPPV.

The Epley Maneuver versus Betahistine in Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is considered the most common cause of vertigo. The necessity for early and effective management resulted in the improvement of the patient’s life quality. The objective was to compare the efficacy between Epley’s maneuver and betahistine dihydrochloride in BPPV treatment. Patients and Methods: A prospective follow-up comparative study on 60 patients with BPPV, who diagnosed with a positive Dix–Hallpike test, were divided equally and randomly into two groups; Group “A” treated with Epley’s maneuver and Group “B” treated with betahistine dihydrochloride. The efficacy of each modality was assessed, regarding the sense of vertigo and its associated symptoms, data of vertigo scales as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Results: There were 23 males (38.33%), and 37 females (61.66%), with mean age (54 ± 7.521) years. The total vertigo improvement was (78.33%); being (93.33%) in group “A” and (63.33%) in group “B”, nausea and vomiting symptoms improvement was (76.66%) in group “A”, and (70%) in group “B”. The baseline VAS score in Group “A” (7.69 ± 1.235 SD) and in Group “B” (6.35 ± 3.267 SD) after treatment improved to 0.56 ± 0.731 SD and 1.86 ± 1.375 SD, respectively, as well as the baseline DHI value in Group “A” (51.86 ± 23.583 SD) and in Group “B” (49.37 ± 18.152 SD) then improved to 2.31 ± 3.986 and 7.98 ± 9.512 SD, respectively. Conclusions: The Epley maneuver was more effective and “statistically significant” in relieving vertigo, and both the VAS and DHI scales compared to betahistine, while regarding associated nausea and vomiting symptoms, it shows no statically significant difference.

Clinical significance of down-beating nystagmus and postural control loss when returning to a sitting position during the canalith repositioning maneuver

Patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) occasionally experience severe dizziness, could not maintain the sitting posture, and then fall onto or off the examination table when they return to the sitting position, which is the last step of the barbecue maneuver and Epley maneuver (EM); down-beating nystagmus is also observed. This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and significance of these findings. We retrospectively reviewed video data showing nystagmus and medical records of adult patients diagnosed with canalolithiasis of the horizontal canal and the posterior canal (PC) BPPV who underwent barbecue maneuver and EM, respectively, in outpatient clinics from April 2014 to March 2019. This study included 112 patients (28 horizontal canal BPPV and 94 PC BPPV cases). Among the 122 BPPV cases, only 14 (14.9%) were analyzed, due to their occurrence during EM. Down-beating nystagmus appeared at 3.6 seconds on average after returning to the sitting position, and the patients fell onto or off the examination table at 4.4 seconds on average after the onset of the nystagmus. The average duration of the down-beating nystagmus was 20.3 seconds. In all 14 cases, no nystagmus was induced by the Dix-Hallpike test performed again after EM, confirming that the treatment was successful. During the EM, down-beating nystagmus and falling onto or off the examination table occurred in approximately 15% of cases. As the risk of falls increases, the patient should be secured immediately after EM. Moreover, it can be inferred that the findings occur when otoconia in the PC enter the utricle, suggesting a successful treatment.

Dizziness in a tertiary neurological department: A cross-sectional study.

Dizziness is a common and challenging symptom, which can be caused by different pathophysiological mechanisms and might affect a large number of population. However, up to now, there have been limited research on the characteristics of dizziness as the chief complaint in hospitalized patients in the Department of Neurology. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the hospitalized patients with dizziness as their chief complaint in the Department of Neurology. In this cross-sectional study, we conducted a retrospective document analysis of hospitalized patients admitted to a tertiary neurological department with the symptom of dizziness during the period of September 2019 to December 2020. We included 211 patients with dizziness as their chief complaint from 1841 patients admitted to this tertiary neurological department during that period. Of all 1841 hospitalized patients, those with dizziness as the chief complaint accounted for 11.5% and most of their past medical history included hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease. Among these 211 patients, dizziness was more common in women than in men (p = .004). More patients presented with vertigo (40.8%) and light-headedness (39.8%) than disequilibrium (17.1%) and pre-syncope (2.4%). Nausea (48.3%), vomiting (34.1%), headache (13.3%), walking unsteadily (13.3%), and ear symptoms (12.8%) were the most common concomitant symptoms. Dix-Hallpike test (24.6%) and Romberg's sign (11.4%) were positive in these dizzy patients. Nystagmus (2.4%), vision changes (1.4%), and hearing disorders (8.5%) were relatively rare symptoms. Common auxiliary examinations were performed, such as magnetic resonance imaging (60.2%), computed tomography (31.8%), carotid duplex ultrasound (30.8%), and echocardiography (28.0%). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (24.2%) and stroke/transient ischemic attack (19.0%) were confirmed to be common causes of dizziness. Note that 97.2% of dizzy patients were in improved recovery after treatment. The diagnosis and management of dizziness remain a challenge for clinicians. Vertigo and light-headedness were the most common symptoms among different types of dizziness. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and stroke/transient ischemic attack were among the leading causes for common dizziness disorders. The prognosis of most dizzy patients was good.

The function of the vestibular organ in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

The aim of the study was to identify the prognostic factors and the relationship between vertigo and the results of objective assessment of the vestibular organ and the levels of thyroid status in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The study population consisted of 28 women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and coexisting chronic vertigo. In all patients, audiological assessment of hearing (tonal audiometry and impedance audiometry), Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre, caloric test, and kinetic tests (rotary chair test and swing chair test) were evaluated. Thyroid hormone levels [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4)] and thyroid antibodies [autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and thyroglobulin (anti-TG)] were determined. The relationships between age, weight, height, and BMI and the results of the objective assessment of the vestibular organ were calculated. In the study group the mean age was 48 years and the mean BMI was 26.425. Normal hearing was found in 15 patients (54%). BPPV (n = 19), followed by Meniere's disease (n = 7) and vestibular neuronitis (n = 2), were the causes of chronic vertigo in this group of patients. The analysis of the objective assessment of the vestibular organ showed decreased excitability of the labyrinth in 15 patients (54%). Twenty-four patients presented with normal TSH and FT4 levels (85%). All patients presented with elevated anti-TPO and anti-TG levels. No correlation was found between age, weight, height, BMI, and the results of thyroid function tests or the assessment of the vestibular organ. We did not confirm the negative influence of thyroid levels or the increase in thyroid antibodies on the abnormal results of the rotary chair test or the caloric test.

Comparative Effectiveness Research: Betahistine add-on Therapy with Epley's Manoeuvre Versus Epley's Manoeuvre Alone in Treating Posterior BPPV Patients.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is one of the common vestibular disorders encountered in ENT clinics with accompanying vertigo. Study to evaluate the additive effects of betahistine on Epley's manoeuvre in treating posterior BPPV patients. Prospective study was conducted on 50 patients of posterior BPPV diagnosed by the Dix Hallpike test. Subjects were divided into Group A which received the Betahistine therapy along with the canalith repositioning technique (Epley's manoeuvre) and the second group (Group B) which received the Epley's manoeuvre alone. The patients were assessed at 1 week and 4 weeks by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Short Form 36 (SF-36). At the end of 4 weeks, 2 patients in group A (E + B) had positive Dix-Hallpike and 23(92%) had negative Dix-Hallpike, while 11 patients in group B (E) had positive Dix-Hallpike and 14 (56%) had negative Dix-Hallpike with P value < 0.001. The Mean baseline (T0) Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score in group A (E + B) was 8.60 ± 1.080 and in group B (E) was 8.92 ± 0.996. Post-treatment VAS score was significantly lower in both the groups and was significantly lower in group A(E + B) than in group B (E) (0.680 ± 1.930 vs. 3.96 ± 3.587, respectively, p-value < 0.001). The Mean baseline (T0) Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores were similar in groups A and B (77.36 ± 9.49 vs. 80.00 ± 8.9, respectively, p = 0.271). After treatment, the DHI values were significantly lower in both groups. Group A had a better DHI score than group B (10.56 ± 17.12 vs. 44.72 ± 27.35, p < 0.001). The mean baseline (T0) Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores were also similar in groups A and B (19.53 ± 6.85 vs. 18.79 ± 5.50, p = 0.823). Post-treatment of 4 weeks, the SF-36 score significantly improved in both the groups and significantly improved in group A than group B (84.27 ± 17.28 vs. 46.53 ± 24.53, p < 0.001). Betahistine therapy in conjunction with Epley's manoeuvre leads to better symptom control and is more effective than Epley's alone in treating BPPV patients.

Recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in two DFNB16 siblings: A CARE case report

IntroductionDeletions or variants of the STRC gene coding for stereocilin cause congenital bilateral mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss without vestibular disorder: DFNB16. Stereocilin is a protein present in vestibular kinocilia embedded in the otoconial membrane of the utricular macula. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a rare form of vertigo in children. The present study reports recurrent positional vertigo in two DFNB16 siblings. ObservationTwo patients, 10 and 15 years old, presented with recurrent disabling positional vertigo episodes, triggered by turning over in bed, with a falling sensation. The diagnosis of right posterior canal BPPV was confirmed on Dix-Hallpike maneuvers in one of the patients. Variations in the response of ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials were observed. Probable BPPV was diagnosed in the second patient. Their other two siblings did not have hearing loss or vertigo. ConclusionThe absence of stereocilin due to homozygous deletions of the STRC gene in DFNB16 patients can cause vestibular dysfunction, including BPPV.

Effects of noise on the vestibular system of normal-hearing workers.

Studies in noise-exposed animals have shown changes in vestibular structures. Likewise, studies in humans have been suggesting that noise can damage the vestibular system, even with normal assessment results. To assess the vestibular system of workers exposed to noise and to compare with individuals not exposed. Twenty normal-hearing male adults were divided in the study group (SG), exposed to occupational noise, and control group (CG). We conducted the following procedures: medical history, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Dix-Hallpike maneuver, and electronystagmography (eye and caloric tests). The DHI score did not differ between groups. The Dix-Hallpike maneuver was normal for both groups. All individuals had normal responses in the eye tests. 50% of the SG had hyperreflexia in the caloric tests, with a significant difference between the groups. There was a trend towards a statistical significance in the absolute values of angular speed of the slow component in the cold-air test, which were higher in the SG. There was a significant difference between the groups in the relative values of labyrinthine preponderance, which were higher in the SG. Our findings showed that 70% of the workers exposed to occupational noise had vestibular alterations identified with electronystagmography, whereas 100% of the individuals in the CG had normal results in the vestibular assessment. Moreover, only 20% of the sample in both groups had vestibular complaints, indicating the presence of subclinical vestibular changes in 50% of the individuals exposed to occupational noise.

The 3D characteristics of nystagmus in posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

The aim of this study was to observe the 3-dimensional (3D; horizontal, vertical, and torsional) characteristics of nystagmus in patients with posterior semicircular canal canalithiasis (PSC-can)-related benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and investigate its correlation with Ewald's. In all, 84 patients with PSC-can were enrolled. The latency, duration, direction, and slow-phase velocity induced by the Dix-Hallpike test in the head-hanging and sitting positions were recorded using 3D video nystagmography (3D-VNG). The characteristics of the horizontal, vertical, and torsional components of nystagmus were quantitatively analyzed. 3D-VNG showed that the fast phase of the vertical components and torsional components of left and right ear PSC-can as induced by the head-hanging position of the Dix-Hallpike test were upward, clockwise and counterclockwise, and horizontal components were mainly contralateral. The median slow-phase velocity of each of the three components for consecutive 5 s was 26.3°/s (12.3-45.8), 25.0°/s (15.7-38.9), and 9.2°/s (4.9-13.7). When patients were returned to the sitting position, the fast phase of the vertical and torsional components of nystagmus was reversed. Only 54 patients had horizontal components of nystagmus, and 32 of them remained in the same direction. The median slow-phase velocity of the three components for consecutive 5 s was 9.4°/s (6.0-11.7), 6.8°/s (4.5-11.8), and 4.9°/s (2.8-8.0). The ratios of the slow-phase velocity of the horizontal, vertical, and torsional components of the head-hanging position to the sitting position were close to 1.85 (1.0-6.6), 3.7 (1.9-6.6), and 5.1 (2.6-11.3). The ratios of the slow-phase velocity of the vertical to horizontal component, the torsional to horizontal component, and the vertical to torsional component of the head-hanging position were close to 3.3 (1.7-7.6), 3.9 (1.8-7.6), and 1.0 (0.5-1.8). The ratios of the slow-phase velocity of the vertical to horizontal component, the torsional to horizontal component, and the vertical to torsional component of the sitting position were close to 2.1 (1.1-6.8), 1.5 (1.0-3.8), and 1.2 (0.8-2.8). There were three components of nystagmus induced by the Dix-Hallpike test in patients with PSC-can. The vertical component was the strongest and the horizontal component was the weakest. The 3D characteristics of nystagmus were consistent with those of physiological nystagmus associated with the same PSC with a single-factor stimulus, in accordance with Ewald's law.