Short-term efficacy of Epley’s manoeuvre: a double-blind randomised trial
- 1Department of Neurology, Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinkum, Berlin
- 2Neurologisches Facharztzentrum, Berlin
- 3Robert Koch Institut, Berlin
- 4Department 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
- Received 7 December 2005
- Accepted 10 March 2006
- Revised 6 March 2006
- Published Online First 20 March 2006
Abstract
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.
Footnotes
-
Competing interests: None.
-
Published Online First 10 March 2006
