Effect of Particle Repositioning Maneuver Epleys versus Semonts in the Treatment of Idiopathic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo of the Posterior Semicircular Canal

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common problem encountered in medical and otorhinolaryngological practice. It is quite a distressing symptom and affects the patients day-to-day activities. A multifactorial etiology has been attributed to the symptom of vertigo. Causes may be otological, neurological, medical or psychogenic. BPPV is probably the most common cause of vestibular vertigo. Correct identifi cation of the cause of vertigo helps to alleviate the patients of their distressing symptoms. Pharmacotherapy has failed to achieve complete resolution of symptoms. Particle repositioning maneuvers, like Epley’s or Semont’s maneuvre, have reported complete symptom resolution. It is now accepted as a quick, effective and easily rectifi able treatment for BPPV. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 patients who attended the ear, nose, and throat outpatient department with a history suggestive of vertigo were interviewed, and informed consent was taken for collecting information related to socio-demographic details and concurrent diseases including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease. Benign positional paroxysmal vertigo was diagnosed on the basis of the history of positional vertigo and the results of the Dix-Hall pike and supine head turning tests. The treatment outcomes of BPPV were collected using a structured interview with the patients using a structured per foma. Results: BPPV was noted to be mostly idiopathic with a female preponderance. Most patients presented with a right sided BPPV. Epley’s maneuver for posterior canal (PC) BPPV was found to be quite effective way of treating this condition. Very few needed a repeat of the same manoeuvre while more number of patients treated by Semont’s manoeuvre needed a repeat procedure at the fi rst follow-up thus implying that the Epley’s manoeuvre was a more effective procedure for treating idiopathic BPPV of the PC. Conclusion: In our study, Epley’s manoeuvre was found to be defi nitely more effective in the treating patients with posterior semicircular canal BPPV.