Management of recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common episodic vestibular disorder, although it is often quiescent by the time patients visit a specialist clinic, making the diagnosis difficult to confirm. Patients fear the consequences of a relapse and it is not clear what follow up should be provided.

This evaluation reviewed the results of an open access pathway that offered priority appointments to patients with a history of positional vertigo.

In total, 664 patients were included in the analysis, 52 per cent of whom had unconfirmed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Open follow up improved diagnostic rates by approximately 40 per cent. The rate of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo recurrence was 34 per cent in patients with follow up of at least one year, 41 per cent with follow up of one to two years, and 53 per cent with follow up of two years or more. One in five recurrences occurred in a different semi-circular canal. These results suggest that specialist follow up is required for management of recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.