Objective: To assess the short-term efficacy of Semont maneuver for unilateral posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (PC-BPPV).
Methods: The short-term efficacy of Semont maneuver was compared with a sham procedure in 128 patients with PC-BPPV by using a double-blinded prospective randomized controlled trial in the setting of a neurologic outpatient clinic in China. Analysis was based on the symptomatic status and the Dix-Hallpike maneuver on the fourth day. At this time, patients in both groups with a still positive Dix-Hallpike test were treated with Semont maneuver, and outcome was again assessed on the seventh day.
Results: On the fourth day, 55 (84.62%) of 65 patients in the treatment group showed complete resolution of symptoms compared with 9 (14.29%) of 63 patients in the control group. (p < 0.001) 59 (90.77%) of 65 and 52 (82.54%) of 63 patients reported resolution of symptoms in the treatment and original sham group, respectively (p = 0.17).
Conclusion: Semont maneuver is shown to resolve PC-BPPV effectively, and patients should receive Semont maneuver once the PC-BPPV diagnosis was confirmed.