PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for residual dizziness (RD) after benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) repositioning. METHODS: This retrospective study included 170 patients with RD after BPPV repositioning, allocated to ginkgo biloba extract (GBE, n = 63), vestibular rehabilitation therapy(VRT, n = 65, VRT + GBE), or rTMS (n = 42, rTMS + GBE) groups, according to the treatment received. Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were assessed at multiple time points. Psychological status, quality of life, clinical efficacy, recurrence, and safety were also evaluated. RESULTS: DHI and VAS scores reductions were greater in rTMS and VRT groups than GBE alone at all time points (P < 0.05), with rTMS showing greater short-term DHI improvement and better SDS reduction than VRT (P < 0.05). SF-36 scores improved more in rTMS and VRT groups. Efficacy rates were 97.62% (rTMS), 100% (VRT), and 96.83% (GBE) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: rTMS combined with GBE was associated with short-term symptom and depressive improvement in RD patients. Due to non-randomized design, findings require confirmation in prospective trials.
Keywords: BPPV; Cognitive dysfunction; Residual dizziness; Vestibular rehabilitation therapy; rTMS.