[Analysis of clinical features with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in elderly patients and precautions for canalith repositioning procedure treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical features with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and discuss the attentions in the canalith repositioning procedures.

METHOD: A total of 76 male and female patients aged 80 and over with BPPV (elderly group) and 76 patients aged 60-65 years old with BPPV (older group) was retrospectively analyzed.

RESULT: (1)Semicircular canal condition: in elderly group, posterior semicircular canal was involved in 72 cases, whereas the horizontal semicircular 4 cases. In older group, posterior semicircular canal was involved in 70 cases, whereas the horizontal semicircular and multiple canals in 5 cases and 1 case respectively. (2) Precipitating factors: precipitating factors of elderly were variety. Its closely related with emotion, infection, seasonal alternation surgery, and trauma. There were significant differences between the two groups (P<0. 05). (3) The symptoms of undergoing treatment and post-treatment: the duration of dizziness and carebaria were significant difference after canalith repositioning procedure treatment between two groups (P<0. 05), the duration of balance disturbance and symptoms of vegetative nerve functional disturbance like nausea and sweating were significant difference (P<0. 05). (4) Treatment and outcomes: the remission, partial remission rate were 34. 2 %, 81. 6% re- spectively, after the first or second time of repositioning treatment. The efficacy of repositioning treating at the first time was significantly different between two groups (P<0. 05). It was poor efficacy in elderly group. There is no difference in efficacy for repositioning treatment at the second or third time (P>0. 05). (5) The elderly always accompanied with other medical condition and had risk factors of cerebrovascular disease. The efficacy was not associated with the complication(P>0.05). However, it was most likely to overtreatment caused by emphasizing other medical conditions treatment. BPPV was easy to ignore and misdiagnose, meanwhile, delayed the diagnosis and increased the medical costs. (6) Many elderly were accompanied cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis body stiffness and fear of vertigo which increased the difficulty of repositioning treatment. (7) Recurrence: we followed up 2 years after treatment. In older group, 11 patients (14. 5%)were relapsed. In elderly group, 29 patients (38. 2%) relapsed. There were significant differences between the two groups (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSION: There are various precipitating factors in elderly patients with BPPV, the most frequent precipitating factors were related to psychological factor and overfatigue. The symptoms of the patients attack BPPV was always mask with other diseases, but do not impact on the efficacy of Canalith repositioning at the first time; Even the efficacy of repositioning is poor at the first time, it's effective and safety after multiple treatments of repositioning; It prolonged the symptoms including carenaria, dizziness and nausea after treatment.