Lateral semicircular canal-BPPV: Prospective randomized study on the efficacy of four repositioning maneuvers

INTRODUCTION: Multiple repositioning maneuvers have been described to treat lateral semi-circular canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (LC-BPPV) patients. In this study, we compare efficacy of four therapeutic repositioning maneuvers for LC-BPPV patients and aim to identify clinical variables associated with persistent disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary center, between January 2017 and September 2019. Patients diagnosed with LC-BPPV were randomly treated with Gufoni or barbecue-roll maneuvers (for the geotropic variant) and Gufoni-Appiani, barbecue-roll or Zuma-e-Maia maneuvers (for the apogeotropic form). Efficacy was compared and statistical analysis was performed to find clinical factors associated with no response.

RESULTS: Forty-eight patients and 82 maneuvers were included. Female patients and right side were more commonly affected. The mean age was 67 years. Seven cases (14.6%) resulted from a canal-switch. One single maneuver resolved 23 cases (47.9%) and the success rate rose to 75% at the end of the first visit (after up to 4 maneuvers) and to 93.8% after a-week of follow-up. Success rates were significantly better with Gufoni (68%) than with barbecue roll (34.8%; p=0.021) in geotropic LC-BPPV and better with Gufoni-Appiani (71.4%) than barbecue roll and Zuma-e-Maia maneuvers (33.3%; p=0.239) in apogeotropic LC-BPPV. Higher rates of persistent disease after first visit were found with older patients, left side and apogeotropic LC-BPPV and with longer latency and duration diagnostic nystagmus.

CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that Gufoni and Gufoni-Appiani maneuvers may be the most efficacious treatment for geotropic and apogeotropic LC-BPPV, respectively, compared to barbecue-roll and Zuma-e-Maia maneuvers.