Presentation and outcome of post-traumatic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Acta Otolaryngol. 2012 Aug;132(8):803-6. doi: 10.3109/00016489.2012.657359. Epub 2012 Mar 11.

Abstract

Conclusion: The clinical presentation and outcome of post-traumatic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (t-BPPV) are different from those idiopathic BPPV (i-BPPV). It appears that t-BPPV is more difficult to treat than i-BPPV.

Objective: To identify the clinical presentation and outcome of t-BPPV.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 40 patients with BPPV after head injury during the period 2004-2011. The outcome was compared with the outcome of 46 patients with i-BPPV who were treated over the same period.

Results: In all, 55% of patients with t-BPPV had involvement of two or more semicircular canals (SCCs) in comparison with 6.5% of patients with i-BPPV (p < 0.01). Also, 25% of patients with t-BPPV had involvement of bilateral SCCs in comparison with 2% of patients with i-BPPV (p < 0.01). We found that 35% of patients with t-BPPV were free of the symptoms and signs after a single physical repositioning maneuver, in comparison with 84% of patients with i-BPPV (p < 0.001). During a 1-year follow-up, 67% of patients with t-BPPV and 12% of patients with i-BPPV had a recurrent attack (p < 0.001).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / complications*
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nystagmus, Physiologic
  • Patient Positioning*
  • Posture / physiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Semicircular Canals / physiopathology*
  • Vertigo / etiology*
  • Vertigo / physiopathology
  • Young Adult