Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical value of dynamic posturography in the evaluation and treatment of imbalance of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
METHOD
Forty-eight patients with BPPV of posterior semicircular canal were analyzed in this study. All the patients underwent the inspection of caloric test, static and dynamic posturography. The vestibular tests were performed before and after treatment with canalith repositioning maneuver (CRM) respectively. Eight patients whose dynamic balances were still abnormal after CRM were accepted vestibular rehabilitation exercise lasting 3 weeks using dynamic posturography.
RESULTS
Among 48 cases of BPPV, the abnormal rates of caloric test, static posturography, and dynamic posturography were 25.0%, 33.3% and 70.8% respectively before CRM. The abnormal rate of dynamic posturography was much higher than that of caloric test or static posturography (P<0.05). After CRM, the abnormal rates of caloric test, static posturography, and dynamic posturography were 14.6%, 8.3% and 16.7% respectively. The abnormal rate of static and dynamic posturography showed significant reduction after CRM (P<0.05). Dynamic balance of eight patients whose dynamic balances were still abnormal after CRM were all improved to normal after vestibular rehabilitation.
CONCLUSION
Dynamic posturography has clinical value in confirming the presence of impaired balance in patients with BPPV. Treatment of BPPV using CRM results in improved postural stability in dynamic posturography. The vestibular rehabilitation exercise using dynamic posturography is helpful for those patients whose balance ability were still abnormal after CRM.