Immediate Efficacy of the Canalith Repositioning Procedure for the Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To study the immediate efficacy of the canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) in the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. PATIENTS:: Thirty-four patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. INTERVENTION:: Eighteen patients were treated with CRP (CRP group); 16 control patients did not receive CRP treatment (non-CRP group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We compared the success rates of the CRP and non-CRP groups. The treatment was considered successful if it prevented vertigo and dizziness. Patients were evaluated 3 times: immediately posttreatment (the day after the first visit), in the short term (1 wk after treatment), and in the midterm (1 mo after treatment) RESULTS:: Successful outcomes occurred in 12 patients (67%) from the CRP group and in 1 patient (6%) from the non-CRP group as immediate results (p < 0.001), 13 (72%) and 4 patients (25%) in the short term, respectively, (p = 0.007), and 16 (89%) and 14 patients (88%) in the midterm, respectively, (p > 0.05). Among patients in the CRP group who did not report immediate success, 1 patient (6%) reported success after 1 week (short term), and 4 patients (67%) had successful outcomes after 1 month (midterm). CONCLUSION:: The immediate efficacy of CRP supported the canalolithiasis theory. The prognosis of patients with immediate unsuccessful results with CRP was somewhat worse than that for patients without CRP treatment.