Management of 210 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: AMC protocol and outcomes

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) could be treated with specific maneuvers for the involved canals. Management on a daily basis gave earlier relief than weekly treatment, especially in apogeotropic BPPV. Apogeotropic and multi-canal BPPVs were related to the increased numbers of follow-ups and trauma was related to the increased recurrence.

We aimed to report the short-term outcomes of our protocol for BPPV and evaluate the factors influencing the results and recurrence.

In 210 BPPV patients, posterior semicircular canal (PSCC), geotropic and apogeotropic lateral canal BPPVs were treated with the Epley maneuver, barbecue maneuver, and barbecue maneuver after head-shaking. The total number of follow-ups needed to have no provoked nystagmus, success rates at 1 week and 1 month, and factors for repeated maneuvers or recurrence were identified.

Apogeotropic and multi-canal BPPV needed more follow-ups than PSCC BPPV. Multi-canal BPPV showed a significantly lower 1-week success rate than other types. Anterior and multi-canal BPPV showed significantly lower 1-month success rates than other types. The 1-week success rates for PSCC and geotropic and apogeotropic BPPV in patients followed up on a daily basis were higher than those in patients with weekly follow-up and the difference was significant only in apogeotropic BPPV. The overall 1-year recurrence rate was 16% and higher recurrence rate was related to trauma.