[Value of the different positioning tests in diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo].
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the value of different positioning tests in diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).


METHODS
Seventy-two patients who had determined the diagnosis of the posterior semicircular canal BPPV (PC-BPPV) in our department from Feb. 2000 to Apr. 2004 was tested with different positioning maneuvers. All cases were randomly divided into 2 groups with cross-over design. Group A with 36 subjects was tested with the Dix-Hallpike maneuver followed up by side-lying maneuver; Group B was tested in reverse order. Then, the Roll test was performed.


RESULTS
The results had association (P > 0.01) between the Dix-Hallpike maneuver and side-lying maneuver, and the positive rate had no significant difference (P < 0.01). The features of vertigo and nystagmus provoked by the tests were the same. One patient was found combining with BPPV of horizontal semicircular canal (HC-BPPV) by the Roll test.


CONCLUSIONS
As the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, the side-lying test has the same diagnostic value in determine the PC-BPPV. Because it is safer and easier to perform in the condition of range-of-motion limitations such as spondylosis, it can alter the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. If the horizontal nystagmus provoked in above tests, the Roll test should be perform also to determine whether combining with HC- BPPV or not.
Ou
Yongkang
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China. yongkangou@hotmail.com
Liang
Xiangfeng
X
Zheng
Yiqing
Y
Yang
Haidi
H
Chen
Suijun
S
Liu
Xiang
X
Liu
Wei
W
Xu
Yaodong
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D012665:Semicircular Canals; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult