Intervention
The Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre
Indication
Vertigo: a sensation of instability in which the person feels that they or their surroundings are moving or rotating.
Posterior canal benign paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV).
What is BPPV?
BPPV is a syndrome characterised by episodes of vertigo, which last for approximately 1–60 seconds; are related to rapid changes in head position, particularly movements related to gravity and those involving neck extension (lying down in bed, reaching up for high objects, bending over); and may be associated with nausea and vomiting for up to several hours.
BPPV is believed to be due to debris (canaliths) in the semicircular canals of the ear. Canaliths may continue to move after the head stops moving, with stimulation of the vestibular nerve leading to vertigo.
BPPV symptoms usually resolve spontaneously within 12 weeks, but may persist for up to several months. Attacks tend to occur in clusters and symptoms may recur, following periods of apparent remission.
What causes BPPV?
Although most cases are unexplained, BPPV is associated with head trauma, vestibular neuritis, vertebrobasilar ischaemia, labyrinthitis, middle ear surgery and periods of prolonged bed rest.
How is BPPV confirmed?
Posterior canal BPPV is confirmed by a positive Dix-Hallpike positional test (Hallpike manoeuvre), with unequivocal features of positional nystagmus. The test is not positive in patients with anterior and horizontal semicircular canal BPPV, both of which are much less common.
A positive Dix-Hallpike positional test provokes vertigo and nystagmus when a patient is moved from a sitting position to lying, with the head tipped 45 degrees below the horizontal, 45 degrees to the side and with the side of the affected ear (and semicircular canal) downwards. The nystagmus typically has a latency of a few seconds before onset and fatigues after approximately 30 to 40 seconds. The nystagmus is rotatory with the fast phase beating towards the lower ear (geotropic) and adapts with repeated testing. Optic fixation (when the eyes are fixed on a specific object) may reduce the severity of the nystagmus.
See the video in Training below.
Precautions
Special care should be taken with both the Dix–Hallpike test and the Epley manoevre in patients with neck pain, stiffness or discomfort and in those with:
- neck injury
- severe cervical spondylosis
- severe positional dizziness or vertigo.
BPPV needs to be distinguished from central positional vertigo, which may occur with:
- multiple sclerosis
- cerebellar disease
- brainstem ischaemia
- migraine
BPPV is typically associated with intense vertigo, which is usually less marked in central positional vertigo. Furthermore, nystagmus often persists in central positional vertigo, when the head is maintained in the same position.
Adverse effects
No serious adverse effects have been reported.
Common
- vertigo
- nausea (and sometimes vomiting) during the manoeuvre.
Infrequent
Inability to tolerate the manoeuvre because of cervical pain, stiffness or discomfort.
Availability
Patients and practitioners can learn to administer the Epley manoeuvre themselves (see Training below). Some physiotherapists, neurologists and consultant general physicians have developed special expertise in administering and teaching the Epley manoeuvre.
Description
- Requirements: a bed or table that can be accessed from both sides and allows for the patient’s head to be positioned off the end of the table. A bowl is advisable in case of vomiting.
- Figure 1 below illustrates the Epley manouvre and is reproduced with the permission of the New England Journal of Medicine.
See the video in Training below.
Once the vertigo and nystagmus provoked by the Dix–Hallpike test cease, the patient’s head is rotated about the rostral–caudal body axis until the left ear is down (Panel B).
Then the head and body are further rotated until the head is face down (Panel C).
The vertex of the head is kept tilted downward throughout the rotation. The manoeuvre usually provokes brief vertigo.
The patient should be kept in the final, facedown position for about 10 to 15 seconds.
With the head kept turned toward the left shoulder, the patient is brought into the seated position (Panel D).
© Massachusetts Medical Society
Tips and challenges
- The Epley manoeuvre is safe and effective for the treatment of posterior semicircular canal BPPV, until symptoms resolve.
- In refractory patients, other diagnoses such as central positional vertigo (see Precautions above) and anterior and horizontal semicircular canal BPPV should be re-considered (see How is BPPV confirmed?) above. Formal vestibular function testing is sometimes required to confirm the diagnosis.
- Useful consumer and practitioner resources are available. See Availability and Consumer Resources.
Training
Grading
NHMRC Level I evidence.