Clinical Practice Update Part I: Diagnosis and Treatment for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

AbstractPurpose of reviewBenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) can be diagnosed and treated at bedside with positional testing and maneuvers. Appropriate and timely recognition and treatment for BPPV can ameliorate symptoms of vertigo and spinning, reduce fall risk and healthcare costs, and minimize disability. Although medications may transiently reduce symptoms, they do not address the underlying pathology. Treatment typically includes the Epley or Semont maneuvers for posterior canal BPPV, the Gufoni or BBQ (Lempert) maneuvers for horizontal canal and the Yacovino or deep head hang maneuver for the anterior canal BPPV.Recent findingsBPPV can be successfully treated with multiple maneuvers. As multiple maneuvers are efficacious, clinicians can select the maneuvers based on their preference, complexity of the maneuvers themselves, patient response to other maneuvers, and factors of the patient ’s profile including body habitus and musculoskeletal considerations.SummaryThe purpose of this manuscript is to simplify the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV and make these techniques accessible to all healthcare providers.
Source: Current Treatment Options in Neurology - Category: Neurology Source Type: research