Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Seung-Han Lee; Ji Soo Kim

doi:10.5124/jkma.2008.51.11.984

J Korean Med Assoc > Volume 51(11); 2008 > Article

Lee and Kim: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Focused Issue of This Month

Diagnosis and Treatment of Dizziness

Journal of the Korean Medical Association

Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2008; 51(11): 984-991.

Published online: November 30, 2008

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2008.51.11.984

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Seung-Han Lee, MD¹, Ji Soo Kim, MD²

¹Department of Neurology, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Korea. nrshlee@chonnam.ac.kr

²Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. jisookim@snu.ac.kr

Abstract

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is characterized by brief recurrent episodes of vertigo triggered by head position changes. BPPV is one of the most common causes of recurrent vertigo. BPPV results from abnormal stimulation of the cupula within any of the three semicircular canals by free-floating otoliths (canalithiasis) or otoliths adhered to the cupula (cupulolithiasis). Typical symptoms and signs of BPPV are evoked when the head is positioned so that the plane of the affected semicircular canal is spatially vertical and thus aligned with gravity. Paroxysm of vertigo and nystagmus develops after a brief latency during Dix-Hallpike maneuver in posterior canal BPPV and supine roll test in horizontal canal BPPV. Usually positioning the head in the opposite direction reverses the direction of the nystagmus. The duration, frequency, and intensity of symptoms of BPPV vary depending on the involved canals and the nature of otolithic debris. Spontaneous recovery occurs frequently even with conservative treatment, however, canalith repositioning maneuvers are believed to be the best way to treat BPPV by moving the canaliths from the semicircular canal to the vestibule.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; Nystagmus; Canalith repositioning maneuver

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Figure 1

Dix-Hallpike maneuver for diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) involving the left posterior canal (PC-BPPV).

(A) With the patient sitting on the examination table, facing forward, eyes open (A-1), the physician turns the patient's head 45 degrees to the left (A-2). The physician supports the patient's head as the patient lies back quickly from a sitting to supine position, ending with the head hanging 20 degrees off the end of the examination table (A-3).

(B) These diagrams show the semicircular canals and translocation of the canalithiasis during each stage of Dix-Hallpike maneuver.

(C) If PC-BPPV is present, upbeat and counterclockwise (from the patient's perspective) torsional nystagmus ensues usually within seconds.

Figure 2

Two types of positional nystagmus are induced by head turning while lying down in horizontal canal type of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. (A) In geotropic type, the nystagmus beats to the ground. (B) In apogeotropic type, the nystagmus beats toward the ceiling.

Figure 3

Canalith repositioning maneuver (modified Epley maneuver) for left posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. (A~C) Initial three steps are same as the Dix-Hallpike maneuver in figure 1. (C) The head hanging 20~30 degrees off the end of the table should be sustained for more than 30 seconds. (D) The physician turns the patient's head 90 degrees to the right side. The patient also should be remained in this position for more than 30 seconds. (E) The physician turns the patient's head an additional 90 degrees to the right while the patient rotates his or her body 90 degrees in the same direction. The patient remains in this position for more than 30 seconds. (F) The patient sits up on the right side of the examination table. (G) Finally, the physician turns the patient's head to the neural position.