[Clinical study on canalith repositioning procedure for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of semicircular canal].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of canalith repositioning procedure for the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

METHOD: Medical records from two hundred and thirty cases with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo treated between January 2002 to June 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups,treatment group (122 cases) and control group (108 cases). Treatment group received a single treatment of canalith repositioning procedure based on the hypothesis that the vertigo and nystagmus of BPPV were due to debris floating in the long arm of the semicircular canal. Treatment outcome was analyzed after two weeks classified as cure, improvement or no change.

RESULT: After a single treatment of canalith repositioning procedure, the vertigo and nystagmus in 88 cases of treatment group immediately or gradually disappeared in 1-2 weeks, 18 cases improved, 16 cases got no effect. Complete remission of vertigo and nystagmus was found in 72.1%, the total improvement rate was 86.9%. The vertigo and nystagmus in 51 cases of control group immediately disappeared in 1-2 weeks, 23 cases improved, 34 cases got no effect. Complete remission of vertigo and nystagmus was found in 47.2%, the total improvement rate was 68.5%, and the difference between groups was very significant (P < 0.001, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The canalith repositioning procedure was effective for most patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and can be recommended as the first-line treatment modality.