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Comparison of EM and SM+ Maneuvers in Patients With BPPV

Benign Peripheral Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Comparison of the Epley Maneuver With the So-called SémontPLUS Liberation Maneuver

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05853328
Enrollment
214
Registered
2023-05-10
Start date
2020-06-01
Completion date
2022-04-07
Last updated
2023-05-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

BPPV

Keywords

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, SemontPLUS maneuver, Epley maneuver

Brief summary

Objective of this prospective randomized treatment trial is to compare the effectiveness of the SemontPLUS (SM+) with the Epley maneuver (EM) for the therapy of posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo canalolithiasis (pcBPPV).

Detailed description

BPPV is the second most common form of vertigo. Reported prevalence ranges from 10 to 140 per 100,000 and lifetime prevalence is at least 2.4%; prevalence of 9-11% have been found in a population older than 75 years. The leading symptom is recurrent attacks of spinning vertigo, each triggered by changes in position relative to gravity and lasting from seconds to one minute. The cause is usually freely moving otoconia in the posterior arcuate canal (so-called canalolithiasis); the horizontal canal is affected much less frequently. In 70% of patients there is a spontaneous remission within days. In case of persistence, about 95% of patients can be successfully treated with so-called freeing maneuvers, e.g., the Sémont maneuver. However, this often requires 20 to 30 maneuvers over several days. Based on 1. our own biophysical studies, which we performed together with colleagues from Switzerland on a mechanical model of positional vertigo and which show that theoretically 24 the effectiveness of the Sémont maneuvers can be increased by changing the positional angle by 30° in the so-called step two of the positional maneuvers, as well as 2. an analysis of the comparison of the conventional Sémont maneuver with the so-called SémontPLUS maneuver, which shows that the mean time to freedom from symptoms for the Sémont maneuver is 3.9 days and only 2.3 days for the SémontPLUS maneuver (p\<0.05), the efficacy of the Epley maneuver will be compared with the SemontPLUS maneuver in a parallel group design. The primary endpoint is the duration, i.e., days (mornings) until freedom from symptoms with continuation of the two maneuvers in the following days, three times in the morning, at noon and in the evening. This is assessed by the patient's statements that he/she can still induce rotational vertigo or not during the positioning maneuvers to the affected side performed by him/herself.

Interventions

The patient is sitting with both feet on the table or bed with the head looking forward. Subsequently, they let themselves fall backwards with a pillow under the shoulder and the head is turned 45° to the right. They stay in this position for 30 seconds. Afterwards, they turn the head quickly 90° to the left side followed by a turn of the whole body to the left so that their nose is pointing at the floor. They stay in this position for another 30 seconds. Subsequently, the patients sit themselves up with the head still turned 45° to the left. They can help themselves by using both arms. After a few seconds, they can turn the head slowly back to the neutral position facing forward.

PROCEDURESemontPLUS maneuver

The patients first turn head 45° to the left. Then they extend the right arm and subsequently move the whole body by 150°+ to the right side. This position is kept for 60 seconds. Subsequently, patients move their whole body by 240° towards the non-affected side. Finally, after another 60 seconds, the patient sits up for another 60 sec.

Sponsors

Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two test groups. After being randomized to the SM+ arm or the EM arm, patients will receive one initial maneuver from a physician, then subsequently performe self-maneuvers at home three times in the morning, three times at noon and three times in the evening.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Subject (≥ 18 years of age) meets diagnostic criteria for the current presence of BPPV of a posterior arcuate duct (8): History: rotary vertigo attacks triggered by head or body position change. Duration: \< 1 minute, associated with nausea, vomiting, oscillopsia Findings: When positioned to the affected ear: torsional and vertically to the forehead beating, exhaustive nystagmus with crescendo-decrescendo-like course.

Exclusion criteria

* Subjects not capable of giving consent * Respondent does not want therapy for BPPV

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of days until no positional vertigo could be induced28 daysPatients had to document whether they could provoke positional vertigo every morning. The primary endpoint was the number of days until no positional vertigo could be induced on three subsequent mornings.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Effect of the single maneuver performed by the physician.28 daysHow many patients in both treatment groups become vertigo and nystagmus-free after a single performance of the allocated treatment maneuver performed by a physician.

Countries

Belgium, Germany, Italy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 9, 2026