Dizziness and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo among retirement home residents: a cross-sectional descriptive and interventional study

Routine benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) physiotherapy management: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is common in older adults with a falls history. The feasibility of routine physiotherapy management in subacute inpatients is not known.

OBJECTIVE

Examine the feasibility of implementing routine BPPV physiotherapy management in older subacute inpatients and ascertain the proportion BPPV positive.

METHODS

Subacute inpatients aged ≥50 years sustaining a fall within six months were assessed for BPPV. Feasibility was defined as >75% of eligible patients able to be assessed for BPPV. Implementation was also evaluated through surveys completed by study physiotherapists. Demographic, falls, medical history, frailty, functional mobility information and modified dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) versions were also collected.

RESULTS

Overall, 67% of 447 eligible patients underwent BPPV assessment; 301 completed ≥ one BPPV assessment, 146 could not be assessed, most commonly due to physical limitation, cognition precluding assessment, declining assessment or discharged prior. Physiotherapists perceived BPPV management to be acceptable (88%), appropriate (90%) and feasible (76%) however constrained by patient-factors, time required and environmental barriers. BPPV was found in 6% of those assessed, with 35% reporting current dizziness or unsteadiness. Modified DHI scores were significantly higher in those BPPV positive (5-item P ≤ .001; 8-item P = .001).

CONCLUSION

BPPV management was not feasible in this population predominantly due to physical limitations and cognitive impairment. Physiotherapists perceive BPPV management as important but difficult amongst these patient-factors and competing clinical priorities. Subjective symptoms may not indicate BPPV risk, however, the 5-item DHI may identify need for individual assessment.

[Diagnosis and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with manual and motorized chairs - Indication and value]

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most frequent cause of episodic vertigo or dizziness. While this diagnosis can be made reliably in most cases by use of targeted history taking followed by provocation maneuvers on the examination couch and subsequent repositioning maneuver, these maneuvers may not be applicable in a subgroup of patients with pre-existing conditions such as musculoskeletal or neurologic disorders. At the same time, part of patients treated on the examination couch will not respond to the repositioning maneuvers. The use of a manual or motorized turntable thus extends both the diagnostic and therapeutic options in BPPV. Thus, it enables patients with disabilities that do not tolerate classic maneuvers on the examination couch access to the required diagnostic procedures and - if needed - provides targeted treatment as well. Furthermore, turntables extend both the diagnostic and the therapeutic spectrum, offering a broader range of repositioning maneuvers in unclear or treatment-refractory cases. In this narrative review potential indications are described and evidence for using turntables in the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV on the turntable is discussed.

Risk Factors and a Nomogram Model for Residual Symptoms of Cured Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

BACKGROUND

We aimed to analyze the independent risk factors that affect the treatment outcomes of residual symptoms of cured benign paroxysmal positional vertigoand to construct a nomogram model.

METHODS

A total of 186 benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients who were treated in our hospital from June 2019 to August 2021 were selected. According to whether there were residual symptoms, they were divided into a group with residual symptoms (n=82) and a group without residual symptoms (n = 104). The logistic regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting the treatment outcomes, and the results were incorporated into R software to establish a nomogram model for verification.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of residual symptoms in the 186 patients was 44.09% (82/186). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, course of disease, number of maneuvers, anxiety state, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were independent risk factors affecting the treatment outcomes of residual symptoms after cured benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the nomogram model was 0.938. The calibration curve was fitted well (χ2 = 8.165, P = .417).

CONCLUSION

The nomogram model constructed based on age, course of disease, number of maneuvers, anxiety state, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension had a high predictive value for the treatment outcomes of residual symptoms in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients.

Treatment of posterior Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is efficient and safe with a new Mechanical Rotational Chair

Background

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most predominant vestibular disease. Previously, in the management of BPPV, both therapeutic and diagnostic benefits with mechanical rotation chairs (MRCs) have been reported. However, no previous studies have examined the efficacy of MRC treatment with a fairly new MRC.

Methods

Randomized three-armed parallel open-labeled prospective clinical trial. One hundred and five patients diagnosed with posterior BPPV underwent diagnostics and treatment with an MRC. Patients were randomized to either a Semont maneuver, an Epley maneuver or a 360-degree backwards somersault maneuver. Primary endpoint was to evaluate the efficiency of an MRC in the treatment of posterior BPPV with three separate treatment modalities. Secondary objectives included subjective vertigo assessments.

Results

BPPV treatment with this MRC is very efficient with success rates up to 97.1 percent. The number of treatments required to achieve complete resolution of both objective findings and subjective symptoms was 1.5. Almost 47 percent of patients experienced complete resolution of both subjective and objective measures following one (first) treatment. All Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores decreased significantly post-treatment.

Conclusion

Treatment of posterior BPPV, with the MRC used in this study, was very efficient with both the Semont, the Epley, and the 360-degree backwards somersault maneuver. Based on the findings in this study, this fairly new MRC seems both effective and safe to use.

Gait and Falls in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common vestibular disorders, and is treated effectively with particle repositioning maneuvers (PRM). The aim of this study was to assess the influence of BPPV and treatment effects of PRM on gait, falls, and fear of falling.

METHODS

Three databases and the reference lists of included articles were systematically searched for studies comparing gait and/or falls between (1) people with BPPV (pwBPPV) and controls and (2) pre- and posttreatment with PRM. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used to assess risk of bias.

RESULTS

Twenty of the 25 included studies were suitable for meta-analysis. Quality assessment resulted in 2 studies with high risk of bias, 13 with moderate risk, and 10 with low risk. PwBPPV walked slower and demonstrated more sway during tandem walking compared with controls. PwBPPV also walked slower during head rotations. After PRM, gait velocity during level walking increased significantly, and gait became safer according to gait assessment scales. Impairments during tandem walking and walking with head rotations did not improve. The number of fallers was significantly higher for pwBPPV than for controls. After treatment, the number of falls, number of pwBPPV who fell, and fear of falling decreased.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

BPPV increases the odds of falls and negatively impacts spatiotemporal parameters of gait. PRM improves falls, fear of falling, and gait during level walking. Additional rehabilitation might be necessary to improve gait while walking with head movements or tandem walking.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Supplemental Digital Content Video, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A421 ).

[The "difficult" patient-Vestibular testing under difficult conditions : Part 1: History taking and clinical neurotological examination]

Der Patient mit dem Leitsymptom Schwindel stellt häufig eine Herausforderung für den Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Arzt dar. Die folgende Artikelserie beleuchtet unterschiedliche Aspekte des „schwierigen“ Schwindelpatienten. Der vorliegende erste Teil widmet sich den Besonderheiten und Fallstricken bei der Anamneseerhebung und der klinisch-neurootologischen Untersuchung. Dabei werden situationsspezifische Lösungsansätze zu folgenden Themen der Anamneseerhebung aufgezeigt: Definition von Erwartungen und Zielen, „ausschweifende“ Anamnese, Beschreibung des Symptoms Schwindel, mehrere Schwindelentitäten bei einem Patienten, Diskrepanz zwischen Symptomschwere und vestibulären Befunden, kognitive Verzerrungen und der Umgang mit Emotionen. Des Weiteren werden praxisbezogene Hinweise für die neurootologische Untersuchung von Patienten mit Halswirbelsäulenproblemen und Augenbewegungsstörungen sowie bei ängstlichen Patienten gegeben.