SHORT REPORT

Short-term efficacy of Epley’s manoeuvre: a double-blind randomised trial

M von Brevern¹, T Seelig¹, A Radtke¹, K Tiel-Wilck², H Neuhauser³, T Lempert⁴

¹ Department of Neurology, Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinkum, Berlin
² Neurologisches Facharztzentrum, Berlin
³ Robert Koch Institut, Berlin
⁴ Department of Neurology, Schlosspark-Klinik, Berlin

Correspondence to:
Dr Michael von Brevern
Neurologische Klinik, Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; michael.von_brevern{at}charite.de

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the posterior canal (PC-BPPV) is a common vestibular disorder and can be easily treated with Epley’s manoeuvre. Thus far, the short-term efficacy of Epley’s manoeuvre for treatment of PC-BPPV is unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of Epley’s manoeuvre for treatment of PC-BPPV 24 h after applying the manoeuvre.

Methods: The short-term efficacy of Epley’s manoeuvre was compared with a sham procedure in 66 patients with PC-BPPV by using a double-blind randomised study design.

Results: 24 h after treatment, 28 of 35 (80%) patients in the Epley’s manoeuvre group had neither vertigo nor nystagmus on positional testing compared with 3 of 31 (10%) patients in the sham group (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Epley’s manoeuvre is shown to resolve PC-BPPV both effectively and rapidly.

Abbreviations: PC-BPPV, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the posterior canal

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