title: Subjective visual vertical after treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Otolith function can be studied by testing the subjective visual vertical, because the tilt of the vertical line beyond the normal range is a sign of vestibular dysfunction. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a disorder of one or more labyrinthine semicircular canals caused by fractions of otoliths derived from the utricular macula.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the subjective visual vertical with the bucket test before and immediately after the particle repositioning maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 20 patients. The estimated position where a fluorescent line within a bucket reached the vertical position was measured before and immediately after the particle repositioning maneuver. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before repositioning maneuver, 9 patients (45.0%) had absolute values of the subjective visual vertical above the reference standard and 2 (10.0%) after the maneuver; the mean of the absolute values of the vertical deviation was significantly lower after the intervention (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a reduction of the deviations of the subjective visual vertical, evaluated by the bucket test, immediately after the particle repositioning maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Programa de Pós-graduação em Distúrbios da Comunicação Humana, Campo Fonoaudiológico, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: maristelamian@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Maristela Mian
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício Malavasi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ganança
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Disciplina de Otologia e Otoneurologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloisa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Caovilla
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D065635:Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072458:Orientation, Spatial / Q000502:physiology; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000503:physiopathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; Equilíbrio postural; Inner ear; Orelha interna; Postural balance; Utricle; Utrículo; Vertigem posicional paroxística benigna