Conversion of posterior canal BPPV to lateral canal BPPV following the Epley maneuver - 14/10/26
, M. Makhoul a, S. Ismail a, M. Marx a, bAbstract |
Introduction |
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is caused by freely floating otoconia in the semicircular canals. The posterior canal is the most affected, with the lateral and superior canals less frequently. Canal-specific repositioning maneuvers effectively treat BPPV, but otoconia can migrate between canals, causing “conversion syndrome”.
Case summary |
A 56-year-old woman with left posterior canal BPPV underwent an Epley maneuver. Immediate retesting revealed conversion to left lateral canal BPPV, which was successfully treated with a Baloh-Lempert maneuver. At one-week follow-up, positional tests were normal and she was asymptomatic. This case is illustrated in the accompanying video.
Discussion |
Conversion from posterior to lateral or superior canal BPPV, while uncommon, illustrates the variable behavior of otoconia and the impact of maneuver dynamics. Identifying factors such as sedimentation speed, optimal retest timing, and maneuver type could improve management and reduce the risk of canal conversion.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Canal conversion, Posterior semicircular canal, Lateral semicircular canal, Repositioning maneuvers
Plan
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