Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Kim, Jin Yong; Ko, Joon Seok; Lee, Ho Joong; Hur, Dong Gu; Ahn, Seong Ki

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of most common peripheral vestibular disorders. The aim of this study was to identify recurrence in the long-term follow-up of patients with BPPV after successful canalith repositioning maneuvers, and to determine which factors contribute to recurrence.
METHODS
The authors reviewed the medical records of 202 consecutive patients with BPPV during the period January 2002 to December 2004 and investigated 112 patients with BPPV treated over the same period. Finally, 71 patients were enrolled in this study. The estimated risk of recurrence used a Kaplan-Meier analysis. For long-term follow-up, patients were contacted by telephone for further information by one experienced doctor.
RESULTS
A total of 71 patients with idiopathic BPPV fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Forty-two patients had posterior semicircular canal-BPPV and 29 patients lateral semicircular canal-BPPV. Recurrence rates in the posterior semicircular canal-and lateral semicircular canal-BPPV were 24% (18/42) and 41% (12/29), respectively (p>0.05). Recurrence following successful treatment during a long-term follow-up period was 23 out of 30 patients within 1 year, 5 patients between 1 and 3 years, 1 patient at between 3 and 5 years, 1 patient after 5 years, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The authors found no significant difference between the posterior semicircular canal and lateral semicircular canal-BPPV regarding recurrence. Recurrence mostly occurred within the first 3 years (93%) following successful canalith repositioning procedure.