[Diagnosis and treatment of horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo].
OBJECTIVE
To explore effective methods for the diagnosis and treatment of horizontal-canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HC-BPPV).


METHODS
Medical records from nine patients with HC-BPPV, treated between July 1996 and March 2000, were retrospectively analyzed. Data of complete history, audiograms, positional tests and neuro-otological examinations were collected. All patients were treated with a particle repositioning maneuver called the "barbecue rotation" which starts with the patient in the supine position and consists of three 90-degree head rotations towards the unaffected ear.


RESULTS
HC-BPPV was characterized by brief attacks of intense vertigo that were induced mainly by rolling over in bed (9/9) and turning the head to either side while upright (5/9). In most cases, rotation to the pathological side from supine position caused a very intense horizontal nystagmus beating towards the undermost ear. Findings such as latency and fatigability, which are common features of posterior-canal BPPV (PC-BPPV), were not present. After the barbecue rotation, all patients had immediate and sustained relief of their attacks during the 4 to 15 months' follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
HC-BPPV is different from PC-BPPV and other vertiginous diseases in typical presentations and positional testing results. The barbecue rotation is a successful method for curing the disorder.
Xing
G
G
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
Chen
Z
Z
Bu
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010037:Otolithic Membrane; D011187:Posture; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*