Treatment of benign positional vertigo in the elderly: a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of three therapeutic strategies (Semont maneuver, flunarizine, and no treatment) in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.


METHODS
Randomized prospective trial.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-six consecutive patients older than 60 years of age who were affected by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the posterior semicircular canal were enrolled. The diagnosis was made on the basis of the history of recurrent sudden crisis of vertigo and positional-induced typical nystagmus after Dix-Hallpike positioning maneuver. Patients were randomly allocated to receive Semont liberatory maneuver (intended as a statoconia-detachment maneuver), flunarizine, or no treatment. A post-treatment negative Dix-Hallpike test result was considered as a proof of vertigo resolution.


RESULTS
Cure rates with Semont maneuver were significantly higher (94.2%) than those obtained with flunarizine (57.7%) and no treatment (36.4%) (P <.001). Within a 6-month follow-up, relapse rates were lower among patients treated with Semont maneuver (3.8%) than those obtained with flunarizine (5.8%) and no treatment (21.1%). All patients with resolution of symptoms and negative Dix-Hallpike test results showed a great improvement in daily activities and quality of life (P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Semont liberatory maneuver is the most successful therapy for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and improves patients' quality of life. Diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers are easy to perform and should be part of the medical knowledge of every general practitioner and geriatrician.
Salvinelli
Fabrizio
F
Department of Otolaryngology, Interdisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research, University Campus Bio-Medico, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Trivelli
Maurizio
M
Casale
Manuele
M
Firrisi
Luca
L
Di Peco
Valerio
V
D'Ascanio
Luca
L
Greco
Fabio
F
Miele
Angela
A
Petitti
Tommaso
T
Bernabei
Roberto
R
D000368:Aged; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D005444:Flunarizine