Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: 10-year experience in treating 592 patients with canalith repositioning procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term efficacy of canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) in the treatment of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

BACKGROUND: Alternative theories for the pathophysiology of BPPV have been redefined in the past few years. CRP is considered to be the standard technique for its management. However, long-term follow-up results have been minimally reported in the literature.

PATIENTS/METHODS: Five hundred ninety-two patients, 290 (49%) men and 302 (51%) women, were enrolled in this prospective study; their ages ranged from 18 to 84 (mean 59) years. At the time of their first examination, patients reported the duration of symptoms varied from 1 day to 18 months. Inclusion criteria were patient history compatible with BPPV and positive provocative maneuver (either Dix-Hallpike or Roll test). A variant of Epley and Barbeque maneuver was used. The Epley maneuver was used for posterior and anterior canal involvement, and "Barbeque roll" was used for horizontal canal involvement. Short-term follow-up was obtained 48 hours and 7 days after initial treatment, whereas long-term follow-up was obtained at repeated 6 month intervals.

RESULTS: The posterior semicircular canal was involved in 521 (88%) patients treated, whereas the horizontal and anterior semicircular canals were involved in 59 (10%) and 12 (2%) patients, respectively. Symptoms subsided immediately in 497 (84%) patients. In 77 (13%) patients, the Dix-Hallpike maneuver remained positive after 48 hours, and CRP was performed again. Patients' mean follow-up was 46 months; 544 (92%) of 592 patients treated reported no symptoms of vertigo.

CONCLUSION: Our data, based on long-term follow-up, suggest that CRP remains an efficient and long-lasting noninvasive treatment for BPPV.