title: Efficacy of the Epley maneuver for posterior canal BPPV: a long-term, controlled study of 81 patients.
abstract: We assessed the efficacy of the Epley maneuver (canalith repositioning) in a study of 81 patients with posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). A group of 61 patients underwent the maneuver, while a control group of 20 patients received no therapy. All patients were evaluated at 1 and 6 months. The percentage of patients who experienced subjective improvement was significantly higher in the treatment group at both 1 month (89% vs. 10%) and 6 months (92% vs. 50%). Three patients in the treatment group who did not improve after treatment underwent a second maneuver, and all achieved a positive result. In addition, 4 successfully treated patients experienced a recurrence between 1 and 6 months following treatment; 3 were retreated, and 2 of them responded well. We conclude that the Epley maneuver provides effective and long-term control of symptoms in patients with BPPV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wietske
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Tjasse D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Bruintjes
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oostenbrink
authors.forename: Roeland B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*