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Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo resulting from surgical trauma
A Nigam1, D A Moffat, E W Varley
1ENT Department, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can occur after jaw surgery for cancer. This condition may be preventable with careful surgical techniques to protect the inner ear.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the jaw requires surgical intervention, often involving partial excision.
- Surgical procedures in the head and neck region carry inherent risks, including potential damage to delicate structures.
Observation:
- A patient experienced benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) subsequent to partial upper jaw excision for squamous cell carcinoma.
- The onset of vertigo was temporally linked to the surgical procedure.
Findings:
- The labyrinth, crucial for balance, may have sustained trauma during the surgical excision of the jaw.
- Surgical trauma to the labyrinth is a probable cause of post-operative vertigo in this case.
Implications:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo might be an avoidable complication following specific head and neck surgeries.
- Further research into surgical techniques is warranted to minimize the risk of inner ear injury and subsequent vertigo.