Epley's Manoeuvre vs. Semont's Maneuver in Post-Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Comparative Study in a Tertiary Centre.

UNLABELLED

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common vestibular disorder characterized by brief episodes of vertigo triggered by changes in head position. Epley's manoeuvre and Semont's manoeuvre are widely used canalith repositioning procedures for the treatment of BPPV. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of these two manoeuvres in treating post-canal BPPV in a cohort of 100 patients.

METHODS

This was a prospective, comparative study conducted at a tertiary care hospital. One hundred patients diagnosed with post-canal BPPV were randomized into two groups: Group A ( = 50) underwent the Epley's manoeuvre, and Group B ( = 50) underwent the Semont's manoeuvre. The patients were assessed for the resolution of vertigo and nystagmus immediately after the manoeuvre and at a follow-up visit one week later. The resolution of symptoms was confirmed through Dix-Hallpike test.

RESULTS

In Group A, 46 patients (92%) reported complete resolution of vertigo immediately after Epley's manoeuvre, and 47 patients (94%) had no nystagmus on the Dix-Hallpike test at the one-week follow-up. In Group B, 42 patients (84%) reported complete resolution of vertigo immediately after Semont's manoeuvre, and 44 patients (88%) had no nystagmus on the DH test at the one-week follow-up. The difference in effectiveness between the two manoeuvres was not statistically significant ( > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both Epley's manoeuvre and Semont's manoeuvre are effective in treating post-canal BPPV, with similar success rates. The choice of manoeuvre may depend on patient preference, clinician expertise, and other individual factors. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate these findings and explore other potential factors influencing the outcomes of canalith repositioning manoeuvres in BPPV.