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The Effectiveness of Physical Therapy for the Horizontal Canal Cupulolithiasis
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Byung Kun Kim, Hee Jun Bae, Ja Seong Koo, Oh Hyun Kwon, Jong Moo Park
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J Korean Bal Soc. 2005;4(2):219-224.
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 Abstract
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- Background
and Objectives: Recently many reports suggest the horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (h-BPPV) is not rare. However there have been few reports on physical therapy for horizontal canal cupulolithiasis, while horizontal canal canalithiasis has a relatively well defined and effective therapy. To evaluate the efficacy of different methods of treating horizontal canal cupulolithiasis, we conducted prospective study.
Materials and Method: We enrolled 104 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with h-BPPV. During that period, patients with posterior canal BPPV numbered 112. Patients with h-BPPV were diagnosed when lateral head rotation in the supine position resulted in geotropic or apogeotropic bilateral horizontal nystagmus. In patients presenting with apogeotropic variant (n=40), following maneuvers was performed sequentially. First of all, we performed head shaking and applied vibrator to the mastoid bone to detach otolith from cupula. If they failed to detach otolith from cupula, we performed barbecue rotation and forced prolonged position (FPP). The treatment outcome was considered as responsive when, immediately after each physical therapy, nystagmus shifted from apogeotropic to geotropic or no nystagmus was elicited by provocation test and symptoms of positional vertigo abated.
Results
There were 27 women and 13 men from ages 30 to 80 (mean 55) years. The average duration of symptoms before intervention was 0 to 12 (mean 0.6) days. In 4 cases, symptoms resolved spontaneously after provocation test. Of the 36 patients treated with headshaking, 6 were responsive. Of the 30 patients treated with vibrator after failure of head shaking, only 1 were responsive. In the barbecue rotation, none obtained relief after barbecue rotation. Of the 9 patients treated with FPP after failure of the barbecue rotation, 4 were symptom free after FPP. Twenty five patients, including 5 non-responders with FPP, underwent no more rehabilitation maneuver. In most of cases (n=24), horizontal canal cupulolithiasis resolved spontaneously within a week.
Conclusion
The direct effectiveness of physical therapy for horizontal canal cupulolithiasis is largely unsatisfactory. However, in many cases, horizontal canal cupulolithiasis resolved spontaneously in a few days.
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Reliability of history taking in the diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
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Byung Kun Kim, Hee Joon Bae, Ja Seong Koo, Oh Hyun Kwon
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J Korean Bal Soc. 2003;2(2):187-190.
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Abstract
PDF
- Background
and Objectives: Patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) usually have typical history. They usually complain of vertigo that lasting a few seconds to a minute. It usually occurs in the morning after awaking and provoked by typical positional change such as head turning, sitting, and lying down. However, some patients may describe their vertigo in a rather atypical way, so there is no absolute reliability of a diagnosis based on history taking. To evaluate the reliability of a diagnosis based on history taking, we performed prospective studies.
Materials and Methods: We obtained structured history from all the patients with BPPV. Total of 408 patients were diagnosed as having BPPV. The diagnosis was based on typical findings of vertigo and nystagmus by Dix-Hallpike maneuver and head turning in supine position.
Results
Duration of vertigo was more than 10 minutes in 22% of patients. Position-precipitating factors were not spontaneously reported by 37%. 16% of patients complained non-spinning vertigo. 38% of patients could not tell the side to which the spell occurs. In 83 cases (20%), it was impossible to diagnose BPPV based upon a typical history.
Conclusion
We conclude that non-paroxysmal, non-positional vertigo dose not rule out BPPV. The provocation test is mandatory in those complaining of dizziness regardless of history since BPPV can be quickly diagnosed by provocation test and easily treated.
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KBS
