Zuma Modified Maneuver as a Treatment to Geotropic Lateral Semicircular Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Abstract

Introduction

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vestibular disorder, resulting from detached otoliths that migrate to one of the semicircular canals - canalolithiasis - or one of the cupulas - cupulolithiasis. The present study is related to lateral canal BPPVs, which may be either geotropic or apogeotropic. The geotropic variant of lateral semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (LC-BPPV) is attributed to free floating particles in the posterior arm of the lateral semicircular canal.

Objectives

To verify the possibility of employing the Zuma repositioning maneuver, with a brief modification, as an alternative treatment for geotropic LC-BPPV.

Methods

Seven patients with geotropic LC-BPPV were enrolled and treated with the Zuma modified maneuver. Patients were reevaluated 1 hour after a single maneuver, to confirm the resolution of vertigo and positional nystagmus.

Results

All seven patients achieved immediate resolution of vertigo and positional nystagmus as measured 1 hour after the application of the maneuver.

Conclusion

The Zuma modified maneuver was effective for geotropic LC-BPPV after a single application. The use of the Zuma maneuver for both apogeotropic and geotropic LC-BPPV may simplify the treatment of these patients.

Keywords
geotropic lateral canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; vertigo; repositioning maneuver

Introduction

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vestibular disorder, resulting from detached otoliths that migrate to one of the semicircular canals - canalolithiasis - or one of the cupulas - cupulolithiasis. The posterior semicircular canals are the most commonly affected by these disorders, but lateral canals are also frequent sites; anterior semicircular canal BPPV (LC-BPPV) is less frequent. The present study is related to LC-BPPVs (LC-BPPV), which may be either geotropic or apogeotropic. The Zuma maneuver was initially designed to treat apogeotropic LC-BPPV.

The geotropic variant of LC-BPPV is attributed to free floating particles in the posterior arm of the lateral semicircular canal. It is characterized by horizontal nystagmus beating to the side of the head turn in the supine roll test. On the other hand, the apogeotropic variant of LC-BPPV is attributed to free floating particles in the anterior arm of the lateral semicircular canal, particles attached to the cupula facing the canal or particles attached to the cupula facing the utricule. It is characterized by horizontal nystagmus beating to the opposite side of the head turn in the supine roll test.^1-3

Different types of reposition maneuvers have been proposed for the management of geotropic and apogeotropic LC-BPPV: Gufoni maneuver, Zuma maneuver, Forced Prolonged Position (Vannucchi Technique) and Barbecue Rotation (Lempert maneuver, Vannucchi-Asprella maneuver).^4-9

For practical reasons, since there are several types of reposition maneuvers described for LC-BPPV, it was felt that the Zuma maneuver, with a brief modification (Zuma modified maneuver) could be an alternative treatment for geotropic LC-BPPV.

Methods

The Zuma modified maneuver proposed to geotropic LC-BBPV was based on the 3D biomechanical model designed by Rajguru et al,^10,11 as the original maneuver. The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee (protocol number CAEE 06137012.3.2002.5349).

A retrospective study was conducted on seven consecutive patients who were diagnosed with geotropic LC-BPPV, all without a history of trauma or concomitant neurotological disease. ►Table 1 gives information on the patients, as well as the affected sides.

Table 1
Age, Gender and Affected Side of the Patients

Patient	Age in Years	Gender	Affected side
1	48	female	left
2	59	female	left
3	68	male	left
4	52	female	left
5	67	female	right
6	58	female	left
7	63	male	right

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was diagnosed when characteristic horizontal nystagmus was demonstrated in the supine head roll test or in the McClure-Pagnini test and the Seated Supine Positioning Test (SSPT)^12,13 using a Video Frenzel goggle (Interacoustics, Middelfart, Denmark). The McClure-Pagnini test was performed by turning the head ∼ 90º to each side in the supine position. Since it is performed on the yaw plane, it should be more correct to call it the head yaw test (HYT) while supine.^14,15 In the SSPT, the patient is briskly brought from the seated position to the supine position.^12,13

All of the patients were treated with the Zuma modified maneuver. The modification from the original maneuver is a head turning 45º to the unaffected side, in the sitting position (step I). Then, the patient is asked to lie down on the affected side (step II). Next, the patient moves into dorsal decubitus and the head is turned 45º toward the unaffected side (step III). After that, the head is turned 90º toward the unaffected side (step IV). Finally, the patient's head is tilted slightly forward, followed by a slow return to the sitting position (step V) (►Fig. 1). There is no age limit for the use of this maneuver.

Fig. 1
The modification from the original maneuver is a head turning 45º to the unaffected side in the sitting position (step I). Then the patient is asked to lie down on the affected side (step II). Next, the patient moves into dorsal decubitus and the head is turned 45º toward the unaffected side (step III). After that, the head is turned 90º toward the unaffected side (step IV). Finally, the patient's head is tilted slightly forward, followed by a slow return to the sitting position (step V). Data modified from Zuma e Maia 2016.⁵

After the performance of the modified Zuma maneuver, its immediate therapeutic efficacy was determined by the same neurotologist. Patients were reevaluated 1 hour after a single maneuver, to confirm the resolution of vertigo and positional nystagmus.

Results

All seven patients achieved immediate resolution of vertigo and positional nystagmus as measured 1 hour after the application of the maneuver.

Discussion

We suggest that the Zuma maneuver with a brief modification (Zuma modified maneuver) could be an alternative treatment for the geotropic variant of LC-BPPV.

There are several types of maneuvers described to treat LC-BPPV, and some of them have to be performed toward the unaffected side of the patient (i.e., Guffoni maneuver)⁴ and others toward the affected side (i.e., Zuma maneuver).⁵ A single maneuver with a brief modification, for both geotropic and apogeotropic LC-BPPV, could simplify the treatment of these cases, following the concept that the repositioning of the otoliths should be performed from the affected side toward the healthy side.

The modification from the original maneuver consists in a 45º head turning to the unaffected in the sitting position (step I). Hence, when the patient is lied down toward the affected side (step II), the lateral canal is placed in a vertical plane and the otoliths start moving away from the ampulla into the posterior arm. In the, when the head is turned 90º toward the unaffected side, the posterior arm of the canal is placed in the vertical plane, making the otoliths move away from the ampulla, through the posterior arm of the canal, in the direction of the utricule. The head tilting that is also performed in the original maneuver prevents the particles from moving back to the canal.

As the particles are free floating on the canal, there is no need of the brisk acceleration that is used to detach the otoliths from the cupula in cases of cupulolithiasis. There is also no need to wait for 3 minutes in each position, like in the original maneuver, for the same reason.

Conclusion

Despite the small sample of patients, the Zuma modified maneuver was effective for geotropic LC-BPPV after a single application. Further studies, however, are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this maneuver. The use of the Zuma maneuver for both apogeotropic and geotropic LC-BPPV may simplify the treatment of these patients.

• Note
  Approved by the Ethical Committee of the Universidade Luterana Brasileira (ULBRA RS, in the Portuguese acronym), Canoas, Brazil - CAEE 06137012.3.2002.5349.

References

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  14 June 2021
• Date of issue
  Apr-Jun 2021

History

• Received
  15 Mar 2020
• Accepted
  18 Apr 2020