Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Identified During Inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Vestibular Disorders
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to vestibular dysfunction.
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common vestibular disorder.
• Identifying BPPV in TBI patients is important for rehabilitation outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of BPPV in adults with TBI during inpatient rehabilitation.
• To describe the clinical presentation and canal characteristics of BPPV in this population.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of canalith repositioning maneuvers for BPPV in TBI patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of adults admitted for inpatient rehabilitation after TBI.
• Standardized vestibular assessment was performed as routine screening, independent of symptom report.
• BPPV diagnosis was based on positional nystagmus according to Bárány Society criteria.

Main Results:

• The incidence of BPPV among assessed TBI patients was 45.0%.
• Posterior canal involvement was most frequent (65.3%).
• Canalith repositioning maneuvers achieved a 95.9% resolution rate, with a median of 1 session required.

Conclusions:

• BPPV is a frequent complication in TBI patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation.
• Routine vestibular screening effectively identifies BPPV cases missed by symptom reporting alone.
• Vestibular screening is essential for TBI patients, including those with cognitive or communication impairments.