The clinical study of posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo / 中国实用内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical features and treatment of posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(PC-BPPV).Methods To retrospectively analyse the clinical features and therapy results of 120 patients with PC-BPPV from January 2003 to November 2004 in the Chang Zheng Hospital of the Second Military Medical University.Results Vertigo attack of PC-BPPV had such characters as brief period,positioning,latency and fatigability.Geotropic rotatory nystagmus occurred in 108 patients and apogeotropic rotatory nystagmus in 12 patients in the test of Dix-Hallpike,and the former received the repositioning maneuver therapy of Epley and the later received the therapy of Semont maneuver.The symptoms disappeared completely in 88 patients after a single session and 12 patients after twice、6 patients after triple sessions of Epley repositioning maneuver therapy in the former,no effectiveness in 2 patients;the symptoms remitted in 8 patients after once,2 patients after twice and 1 patient after triple sessions therapy of Semont repositioning maneuver in the later,no change in 1 patient.The total success rate was 97.5%(117/120).Fifteen patients had relapse during follow-up and the recurrence rate was 12.5%(15/120).They also responded to repositioning maneuver therapy.Conclusion The diagnosis of PC-BPPV is based on the typical clinical features and the test of Dix-Hallpike.The repositioning maneuver therapy is safe and effective for PC-BPPV and should be used for all patients when the diagnosis is clearly made.