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Subjective visual vertical after treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Please cite this article as: Ferreira MM, Ganança MM, Caovilla HH. Subjective visual vertical after treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2017;83:659-64.

Abstract

Introduction:

Otolith function can be studied by testing the subjective visual vertical, because the tilt of the vertical line beyond the normal range is a sign of vestibular dysfunction. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a disorder of one or more labyrinthine semicircular canals caused by fractions of otoliths derived from the utricular macula.

Objective:

To compare the subjective visual vertical with the bucket test before and immediately after the particle repositioning maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Methods:

We evaluated 20 patients. The estimated position where a fluorescent line within a bucket reached the vertical position was measured before and immediately after the particle repositioning maneuver. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed.

Results:

Before repositioning maneuver, 9 patients (45.0%) had absolute values of the subjective visual vertical above the reference standard and 2 (10.0%) after the maneuver; the mean of the absolute values of the vertical deviation was significantly lower after the intervention (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

There is a reduction of the deviations of the subjective visual vertical, evaluated by the bucket test, immediately after the particle repositioning maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Palavras-chave
Vertigem posicional paroxística benigna; Orelha interna; Utrículo; Equilíbrio postural

Resumo

Introdução:

A função do otólito pode ser estudada por meio de testes da vertical visual subjetiva, porque a inclinação da linha vertical além da faixa normal é um sinal de disfunção vestibular. A vertigem postural paroxística benigna é um distúrbio de um ou mais canais semicirculares labirínticos causado por frações de otólitos derivados da mácula utricular.

Objetivo:

Comparar a vertical visual subjetiva com o teste do balde antes e imediatamente após a manobra de reposicionamento de partículas em pacientes com vertigem posicional paroxística benigna.

Método:

Foram avaliados 20 pacientes. A posição estimada, onde uma linha de fluorescência dentro de um balde atingia a posição vertical, foi medida antes e imediatamente após a manobra de reposicionamento de partículas. Os dados foram tabulados e analisados estatisticamente.

Resultados:

Antes da manobra de reposicionamento, nove pacientes (45%) apresentaram valores absolutos de vertical visual subjetiva acima da referência padrão e dois (10%) depois da manobra; a média dos valores absolutos do desvio vertical foi significativamente mais baixa depois da intervenção (p < 0,001).

Conclusão:

Há uma redução dos desvios da vertical visual subjetiva, avaliada pelo teste do balde, imediatamente após a manobra de reposicionamento de partículas em pacientes com vertigem posicional paroxística benigna.

Palavras-chave:
Vertigem posicional paroxística benigna; Orelha interna; Utrículo; Equilíbrio postural

Introduction

The perception of the vertical position depends on the integration of vestibular, proprioceptive and visual information; however, it has not yet been determined how and where in the cerebral cortex the vestibular information for spatial perception is processed.11 Luyat M, Noël M, Thery V, Gentaz E. Gender and line size factors modulate the deviations of the subjective visual vertical induced by head tilt. BMC Neurosci. 2012;13:28. The three semicircular canals are sensitive to angular accelerations, and the utricular and saccular maculae, with their otoliths, are sensitive to linear accelerations; the cortical otolith afferents provide spatial orientation, perception of movement, and mental representation of the body in space.22 Büttner-Ennever JA. A review of otolith pathways to brainstem and cerebellum. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999;871:51-64.

The benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), recognized as a common cause of vertigo with a higher prevalence in females and in the elderly, in most cases is unilateral and idiopathic. It is characterized by episodes of sudden vertigo and/or positional nystagmus, of short duration, and may be accompanied by nausea; it occurs when there is a change of position of the head due to otolith fractionation of utricular macula, and the displacement of these particles to the semicircular canals.33 Brandt T. Vertigo: its multisensory syndromes. London: Springer; 1999, 503 pp.

4 Strupp M, Brandt T. Diagnosis and treatment of vertigo and dizziness. Dtsch Arztebl. 2008;105:173-80.

5 von Brevern M, Bertholon P, Brandt T, Fife T, Imai T, Nuti D, et al. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: diagnostic criteria. J Vestib Res. 2015;25:105-17.

6 Schuknecht HF. Cupulolithiasis. Arch Otolaryngol. 1969;90:765-78.

7 Schuknecht HF, Ruby RR. Cupulolithiasis. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 1973;20:434-43.
-88 Hall SF, Ruby RRF, Mc Clure JA. The mechanisms of benign paroxysmal vertigo. J Otolaryngol. 1979;8:151-8.

The diagnosis of BPPV is based on clinical history and is established by a complaint of vertigo with visualization of nystagmus during positional maneuvers, usually paroxysmal and fatigable, and exhibiting latency. The characteristics of the positional nystagmus elicited by the Dix-Hallpike test99 Dix R, Hallpike S. The pathology, symptomatology and diagnosis of certain common disorders of vestibular system. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1952;6:987-1016. or the test of head rotation1010 Herdman SJ, Hoder JM. Physical therapy of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In: Herdman SJ, Clendaniel RA, editors. Vestibular rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Davis; 2014. p. 324-54. identify the affected labyrinth and semicircular canal.1010 Herdman SJ, Hoder JM. Physical therapy of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In: Herdman SJ, Clendaniel RA, editors. Vestibular rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Davis; 2014. p. 324-54.

There are several methods to assess the vestibular system. The test that evaluates the ability to judge whether objects are upright is called subjective vertical visual (SVV). This test can indicate impairment of spatial orientation in patients with peripheral1111 Böhmer A, Rickenmann J. The subjective visual vertical as a clinical parameter of vestibular function in peripheral vestibular diseases. J Vestib Res. 1995;5:35-45. and central1212 Dieterich M, Brandt T. Ocular torsion and tilt of subjective visual vertical are sensitive brainstem signs. Ann Neurol. 1993;33:292-9.,1313 Brandt T, Dieterich M, Danek A. Vestibular cortex lesions affect the perception of verticality. Ann Neurol. 1994;35:403-12. vestibular disorders, especially in acute unilateral otolith dysfunctions, indicating that the greater the deviation, the more acute or more extensive the lesion.1414 Halmagyi GM, Curthoys IS. Clinical testing of otolith function. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999;871:195-204. The direction of SVV tilt is usually to the same side in unilateral peripheral (labyrinth and/or vestibular nerve) or pontomedullary (vestibular nuclei) lesions, and to the opposite side of the affected ones in unilateral pontomesencephalic lesions, and can be to the same side or the opposite side in thalamic or dentate nucleus lesions.1515 Brandt T. Determination of the subjective visual vertical as a topographic diagnostic tool. Schweiz Arch Neurol Psychiatr. 2011;162:49.

SVV can be evaluated with different procedures, including a hemispheric dome with randomly arranged colored dots, a portable light bar, the projection of a line on a screen, and the bucket method. Since the hemispheric dome method and the "bucket method" had similar distribution of SVV values, it is concluded that the use of the "bucket method" could become part of routine clinical tests, because it is easy to apply and is inexpensive.1616 Zwergal A, Rettinger N, Frenzel C, Dieterich M, Brandt T, Strupp M. A bucket of static vestibular function. Neurology. 2009;72:1689-92. The bucket method, applied in Brazil, showed that the highest concentration of absolute values of the vertical deviations reached a value of 3 in adults and healthy elderly individuals, regardless of gender, and did not increase with age.1717 Ferreira MM, Cunha F, Ganança CF, Ganança MM, Caovilla HH. Subjective visual vertical with the bucket method in Brazilian healthy individuals. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;82:442-6. The limit of SVV deviation with the bucket method considered normal in adults and elderly,1717 Ferreira MM, Cunha F, Ganança CF, Ganança MM, Caovilla HH. Subjective visual vertical with the bucket method in Brazilian healthy individuals. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;82:442-6. and in the elderly and oldest,1818 Davalos-Bichara M, Agrawal Y. Normative results of healthy older adults on standard clinical vestibular tests. Otol Neurotol. 2014;35:297-300.,1919 Sun DQ, Zuniga MG, Davalos-Bichara AM, Carey JP, Agrawal LY. Evaluation of a bedside test of utricular function - the bucket test - in older individuals. Acta Otolaryngol. 2014;134:382-9. is similar to the limit of SVV used in other methods.2020 van Nechel C, Toupet M, Bodson I. The subjective visual vertical. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2001;58:77-87.,2121 Hirvonen TP, Jutila T, Aalto H. Subjective head vertical test reveals subtle head tilt in unilateral peripheral vestibular loss. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2011;268:1523-6.

In patients with BPPV that were evaluated by different methods, SVV deviations were different2222 Gall RM, Ireland DJ, Robertson DD. Subjective visual vertical in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. J Otolaryngol. 1999;3:162-5.

23 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11.
-2424 Cohen HS, Sangi-Haghpeykar H. Subjective visual vertical in vestibular disorders measured with the bucket test. Acta Otolaryngol. 2012;132:850-4. or similar2525 von Brevern M, Schmidt T, Schönfeld U, Lempert T, Clarke AH. Utricular dysfunction in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Otol Neurotol. 2005;27:92-6. to the control group deviations. Deviations of SVV were normal,2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11. abnormal2020 van Nechel C, Toupet M, Bodson I. The subjective visual vertical. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2001;58:77-87.,2626 Boleas-Aguirre FM, Sánchez-Ferrándiz N, Perez N. The subjective visual vertical in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A preliminary study. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord). 2005;126:253-5. or were near normal limits1111 Böhmer A, Rickenmann J. The subjective visual vertical as a clinical parameter of vestibular function in peripheral vestibular diseases. J Vestib Res. 1995;5:35-45. and were always or often inclined toward the affected side1111 Böhmer A, Rickenmann J. The subjective visual vertical as a clinical parameter of vestibular function in peripheral vestibular diseases. J Vestib Res. 1995;5:35-45.,2020 van Nechel C, Toupet M, Bodson I. The subjective visual vertical. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2001;58:77-87.,2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11. or inclined to the healthy side.2626 Boleas-Aguirre FM, Sánchez-Ferrándiz N, Perez N. The subjective visual vertical in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A preliminary study. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord). 2005;126:253-5. With the bucket method, abnormal deviations of SVV were frequent, and often occurred to the affected side.2727 Chetana N, Jayesh R. Subjective visual vertical in various vestibular disorders by using a simple bucket test. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;67:180-4.

The low cost, easy evaluation of SVV with the bucket test, and the contradictory reports in the literature about the findings in patients with BPPV motivated the interest in expanding the experience with this diagnostic method before and after treatment of this disease with maneuvers for repositioning particles.

The objective of this research is to compare the subjective vertical visual through the bucket test before and after particles repositioning maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Methods

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the institution under No. 733.154/2014. All participants received information about the research and its objectives through an explanatory letter, and signed the Informed Consent before the investigation began.

In this cross-sectional study, the sample consisted of adult male or female patients diagnosed with BPPV.

The criterion for inclusion of patients was the diagnosis of BPPV, made by the otolaryngologist, based on clinical history and the presence of vertigo and positional nystagmus when undergoing Dix-Hallpike test99 Dix R, Hallpike S. The pathology, symptomatology and diagnosis of certain common disorders of vestibular system. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1952;6:987-1016. and head rotation,1010 Herdman SJ, Hoder JM. Physical therapy of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In: Herdman SJ, Clendaniel RA, editors. Vestibular rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Davis; 2014. p. 324-54. to identify the impaired labyrinth (right, left or both) and the semicircular canal (posterior, anterior or lateral).

We excluded patients with inability to understand and follow simple verbal commands; severe visual impairment, or any whose vision was not compensated with the use of corrective lenses; neurological and/or mental disorders; other vestibular disorders, alcohol intake 24 h prior to evaluation; those on drugs that act on the central nervous system or the vestibular system; and those had undergone rehabilitation for body balance in the last six months.

Patients underwent, successively on the same day, history taking, investigation for vertigo and positional nystagmus, and evaluation of SVV with the bucket method1616 Zwergal A, Rettinger N, Frenzel C, Dieterich M, Brandt T, Strupp M. A bucket of static vestibular function. Neurology. 2009;72:1689-92.,1717 Ferreira MM, Cunha F, Ganança CF, Ganança MM, Caovilla HH. Subjective visual vertical with the bucket method in Brazilian healthy individuals. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;82:442-6. before and immediately after performing a single particle repositioning maneuver.

The investigation for vertigo and positional nystagmus in Dix-Hallpike tests99 Dix R, Hallpike S. The pathology, symptomatology and diagnosis of certain common disorders of vestibular system. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1952;6:987-1016. and head rotation1010 Herdman SJ, Hoder JM. Physical therapy of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In: Herdman SJ, Clendaniel RA, editors. Vestibular rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Davis; 2014. p. 324-54. determined the clinical diagnosis of patients. The presence of nystagmus at right Dix-Hallpike test indicated right labyrinth BPPV, and at left Dix-Hallpike indicated left labyrinth BPPV. Torsional and vertical up-beat nystagmus indicated posterior canal involvement; the torsional and vertical down-beat nystagmus indicated anterior canal involvement. In the head rotation test to the right and left sides, more intense geotropic horizontal nystagmus indicated an impairment of the lateral canal on the same side, and more intense ageotropic horizontal nystagmus indicated impairment of the lateral canal on the opposite side.1010 Herdman SJ, Hoder JM. Physical therapy of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In: Herdman SJ, Clendaniel RA, editors. Vestibular rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Davis; 2014. p. 324-54.

Depending on the identification of the impaired semicircular canal, the otolaryngologist selected Epley's particle repositioning maneuver2828 Epley JM. The canalith repositioning procedure: for treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992;107:399-404. to be performed in cases of posterior canal BPPV, and Lempert's maneuver2929 Lempert T, Wilck KT. A positional maneuver for treatment of horizontal-canal benign positional vertigo. Laryngoscope. 1996;106:476-8. for the lateral canal BPPV.

Binocular assessment of SVV used a bucket.3030 Cook J. SVV bucket construction. University of Pittsburgh (last edited 2010-05-05 09:14:00 by James Cook). At the internal bottom of the bucket, a fluorescent tape was arranged rectilinearly and perfectly aligned with the ground zero of a protractor positioned on the outside bottom of the bucket, and the true vertical relative to the Earth.

Patients, sitting with their head held upright and the visual field completely into the bucket, were instructed to look at the fluorescent line inside it. The bucket was rotated at random by the examiner clockwise and counterclockwise. Then the examiner slowly turned the bucket toward the zero degree position. Patients said "stop" when the fluorescent line reached the vertical position. Ten repetitions were performed, five clockwise and five anti-clockwise. The angular deviation from the vertical position was measured in degrees from the scale located outside the bucket. The mean of absolute values of deviations from true vertical of ten repetitions of the procedure was calculated for each patient before and after the repositioning maneuver. Values above 3, to the right or to the left, were considered abnormal.1717 Ferreira MM, Cunha F, Ganança CF, Ganança MM, Caovilla HH. Subjective visual vertical with the bucket method in Brazilian healthy individuals. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;82:442-6.

18 Davalos-Bichara M, Agrawal Y. Normative results of healthy older adults on standard clinical vestibular tests. Otol Neurotol. 2014;35:297-300.
-1919 Sun DQ, Zuniga MG, Davalos-Bichara AM, Carey JP, Agrawal LY. Evaluation of a bedside test of utricular function - the bucket test - in older individuals. Acta Otolaryngol. 2014;134:382-9. The direction of the slope in each case was determined by summing the values of all 10 repetitions, considering the positive or negative sign.1818 Davalos-Bichara M, Agrawal Y. Normative results of healthy older adults on standard clinical vestibular tests. Otol Neurotol. 2014;35:297-300. Deviations to the right were defined as positive (bucket rotated clockwise relative to the patient), and deviations to the left negative (bucket rotated counterclockwise relative to the patient). The sum of the deviations to the right (positive) and left (negative) that were equal to zero defined a lack of prevalence in one direction over the other.

Data of the investigation were handled exclusively by the main investigator to ensure the right to confidentiality of information.

A descriptive statistical analysis to characterize the sample was performed. For quantitative variables, the minimum and maximum values were observed, and the mean values, medians and standard deviations were calculated. For qualitative variables, absolute and relative frequencies were calculated. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare SVV measurements at diagnosis and immediately after the repositioning maneuver. The power of the test was calculated, showing that the sample size was sufficient. Analyses were performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 19; the significance level was 0.05 (5%).

Results

SVV was evaluated in 20 patients with a diagnostic hypothesis of BPPV; 16 female and four male, aged between 51 and 89 years and a mean of 58.35 years.

The involvement of the left posterior semicircular canal was identified in 10 cases, the involvement of the right posterior semicircular canal in nine, and the right lateral semicircular canal in one.

Table 1 shows a comparison of the absolute values of SVV before and after the repositioning maneuver in 20 patients with BPPV.

Table 1
Absolute values and statistical data of vertical deviations and its direction before and after the repositioning maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Before the repositioning maneuver, nine patients (45.0%) had absolute values of SVV above the reference standard: abnormal deviations to the same side of the affected labyrinth in BPPV occurred in 5 cases (25.0%) and to the opposite side in 4 (20.0%). Eleven patients (55.0%) had deviations of the absolute values of SVV in the reference standard.

After the repositioning maneuver, two patients (10.0%) had abnormal deviations of the absolute values of SVV, in the same direction observed before the maneuver; 15 cases (75.0%) had normal deviations from the absolute values of SVV, 14 (70.0%) in the same direction, and 1 (5.0%) in the opposite direction compared to that seen before the maneuver; 3 cases (15.0%) did not show any prevalence of one direction over the other.

Comparing SVV deviations before and after the repositioning maneuver, the mean of absolute values of the vertical deviations in 20 cases of BPPV in the reference standard was significantly lower after the intervention (p < 0.001).

Discussion

Vertigo triggered by head movements in BPPV is explained by the migration of calcium carbonate particles resulting from the fractionation of otoliths of the utricular macula.33 Brandt T. Vertigo: its multisensory syndromes. London: Springer; 1999, 503 pp.,44 Strupp M, Brandt T. Diagnosis and treatment of vertigo and dizziness. Dtsch Arztebl. 2008;105:173-80. The mechanical maneuvers of repositioning the debris of otolith aim to return the particles to the utricle through a sequence of movements of the head and body.1010 Herdman SJ, Hoder JM. Physical therapy of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In: Herdman SJ, Clendaniel RA, editors. Vestibular rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Davis; 2014. p. 324-54.,2828 Epley JM. The canalith repositioning procedure: for treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992;107:399-404.

SVV tests evaluate the otolith function, especially that of the utricular macula.1414 Halmagyi GM, Curthoys IS. Clinical testing of otolith function. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999;871:195-204.,2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11. There is evidence that BPPV is associated with utricular dysfunction, possibly due to degeneration of the utricular macula.2525 von Brevern M, Schmidt T, Schönfeld U, Lempert T, Clarke AH. Utricular dysfunction in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Otol Neurotol. 2005;27:92-6. Deviations of SVV were checked by means of a light bar in 87.5% of patients with acute BPPV compared to a control group.2222 Gall RM, Ireland DJ, Robertson DD. Subjective visual vertical in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. J Otolaryngol. 1999;3:162-5. With the bucket method, the significant difference in the absolute values of SVV deviations in the comparison between healthy subjects and patients with posterior semicircular canal BPPV suggests that this test can indicate a disorder of spatial orientation in this condition.2424 Cohen HS, Sangi-Haghpeykar H. Subjective visual vertical in vestibular disorders measured with the bucket test. Acta Otolaryngol. 2012;132:850-4.

In this research, the abnormal deviation of absolute values of SVV was not necessarily to the same side of the affected labyrinth, a finding that is consistent with some research2020 van Nechel C, Toupet M, Bodson I. The subjective visual vertical. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2001;58:77-87.,2626 Boleas-Aguirre FM, Sánchez-Ferrándiz N, Perez N. The subjective visual vertical in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A preliminary study. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord). 2005;126:253-5.,2727 Chetana N, Jayesh R. Subjective visual vertical in various vestibular disorders by using a simple bucket test. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;67:180-4. and not consistent with others that observed SVV deviations only to the BPPV side.1111 Böhmer A, Rickenmann J. The subjective visual vertical as a clinical parameter of vestibular function in peripheral vestibular diseases. J Vestib Res. 1995;5:35-45.,2020 van Nechel C, Toupet M, Bodson I. The subjective visual vertical. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2001;58:77-87.,2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11. Attempting to explain the finding of deviations to the contralateral side of BPPV, it was suggested that the area of the utricular macula affected by the loss of otoliths could be in cell fields that are sensitive to ipsilateral or contralateral cephalic inclinations; the otolith disorder could be bilateral, but would only manifest as a unilateral BPPV; or that visuovestibular integration structures developed a correction by moving SVV contralaterally to maintain harmony between visual and vestibular information.2020 van Nechel C, Toupet M, Bodson I. The subjective visual vertical. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2001;58:77-87.

Almost half of this series of patients with BPPV (45.0%) showed abnormal absolute deviations of SVV during the acute period of the disease. The literature describes variable results in the acute phase of the disease. With the bucket method, 80.9% of the cases of BPPV showed absolute deviations of abnormal SVV,2727 Chetana N, Jayesh R. Subjective visual vertical in various vestibular disorders by using a simple bucket test. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;67:180-4. and with other methods abnormal deviations of SVV in BPPV were found in only 10.0% of the cases,2626 Boleas-Aguirre FM, Sánchez-Ferrándiz N, Perez N. The subjective visual vertical in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A preliminary study. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord). 2005;126:253-5. and in 5 3% of cases1111 Böhmer A, Rickenmann J. The subjective visual vertical as a clinical parameter of vestibular function in peripheral vestibular diseases. J Vestib Res. 1995;5:35-45. and in 16.4% of patients diagnosed with right BPPV and in 14.2% of patients with left BPPV.2020 van Nechel C, Toupet M, Bodson I. The subjective visual vertical. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2001;58:77-87.

Just a little more than half of the sample (55.0%) presented SVV deviation results within the standard reference in the acute phase of the disease. Such results of SVV within the limit considered normal was previously described in some patients with BPPV,1111 Böhmer A, Rickenmann J. The subjective visual vertical as a clinical parameter of vestibular function in peripheral vestibular diseases. J Vestib Res. 1995;5:35-45.,2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11.,2626 Boleas-Aguirre FM, Sánchez-Ferrándiz N, Perez N. The subjective visual vertical in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A preliminary study. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord). 2005;126:253-5. suggesting that the otolith dysfunction of BPPV would not be very extensive in these cases.1111 Böhmer A, Rickenmann J. The subjective visual vertical as a clinical parameter of vestibular function in peripheral vestibular diseases. J Vestib Res. 1995;5:35-45.,2626 Boleas-Aguirre FM, Sánchez-Ferrándiz N, Perez N. The subjective visual vertical in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A preliminary study. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord). 2005;126:253-5.

In this study, most patients (77.8%) with abnormal absolute deviations of SVV before repositioning maneuver presented results within the reference standard after therapeutic maneuver. The reduction in SVV deviations after the repositioning maneuver in BPPV was also previously described.2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11.,2727 Chetana N, Jayesh R. Subjective visual vertical in various vestibular disorders by using a simple bucket test. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;67:180-4. The two cases that continued to show abnormal deviations of SVV perhaps had more extensive otolith involvement,2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11. stenosis or obstruction of the semicircular canal,3131 Horii A, Kitahara T, Osaki Y, Imai T, Fukuda K, Sakagami M, et al. Intractable benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo: long-term follow-up and inner ear abnormality detected by three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging. Otol Neurotol. 2010;31:250-5. or the maneuver failed to remove all particles,3232 Herdman SJ, Tusa RJ, Zee DS, Proctor LR, Mattox DE. Single treatment approaches to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993;119:450-4. possibly requiring the repetition of repositioning procedure3333 Korn GP, Dorigueto RS, Ganança MM, Caovilla HH. Epley's maneuver in the same session in benign positional paroxysmal vertigo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2007;73:533-9. or multiple treatments,3434 Vrabec JT. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and otolith repositioning. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998;124:223-5.,3535 Dorigueto RS, Ganança MM, Ganança FF. The number of procedures required to eliminate positioning nystagmus in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2005;71:769-75. for the resolution of BPPV. A greater number of maneuvers could provide greater clearance of the otoliths in the affected semicircular canal.3333 Korn GP, Dorigueto RS, Ganança MM, Caovilla HH. Epley's maneuver in the same session in benign positional paroxysmal vertigo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2007;73:533-9. The deviation of SVV in BPPV appears to be related to the dysfunction of the otolith organs; the elimination of semicircular canal otoliths would restore the macular structure and side effects in the utricle.55 von Brevern M, Bertholon P, Brandt T, Fife T, Imai T, Nuti D, et al. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: diagnostic criteria. J Vestib Res. 2015;25:105-17.,2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11.

In the cases of BPPV evaluated in this study, the significant reduction of the average absolute SVV values after the repositioning maneuver suggests an immediate favorable effect of the therapeutic procedure performed, consistent with the proposition that the modification of the SVV after the therapeutic maneuver would reflect the migration of otoliths back to the utricle.2323 Faralli M, Manzari L, Panichi R, Botti F, Ricci G, Longari F, et al. Subjective visual vertical before and after treatment of a BPPV episode. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011;38:307-11.

This research showed that the bucket method was effective to evaluate SVV before and after the repositioning maneuver in BPPV patients. The significant reduction of the values of SVV deviations after the repositioning maneuver implies the utility of the bucket method to assess the favorable effect of this therapeutic procedure in BPPV.

Conclusion

Evaluations using the bucket test reveal that there is a reduction of the deviations of the subjective vertical visual immediately after particle repositioning maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

  • Peer Review under the responsibility of Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial.
  • Please cite this article as: Ferreira MM, Ganança MM, Caovilla HH. Subjective visual vertical after treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2017;83:659-64.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Nov-Dec 2017

History

  • Received
    31 May 2016
  • Accepted
    29 Aug 2016
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