Description

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a mechanical disorder of the inner ear. It is characterized by a brief period of an altered sensation of motion experienced when the position of the patient’s head is changed relative to gravity.
• Vertigo results from the mismatch in the perception of movement by the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems when no mismatch exists.
• The brief period of vertigo is caused by abnormal stimulation of 1 or more of the 3 semicircular canals of the inner ear, with the posterior canal most commonly affected (85–95% of cases).
• BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo.

Epidemiology

• Age of onset is most commonly between the 5th and 7th decades of life.
• Incidence increases with each decade of life.
• Prevalent sex: female > male
• BPPV affects the quality of life of elderly patients and is associated with reduced activities of daily living scores, falls, and depression (1)[A].

Etiology and Pathophysiology

• In BPPV, calcite particles (otoconia), which normally weigh the sensory membrane of the maculae, become dislodged and settle into the semicircular canal, changing the dynamics of the canal. Reorientation of the canal relative to gravity causes the otoconia to move to the lowest part of the canal, causing displacement of the endolymph, deflection of the cupula, and activation of the primary afferent. This results in the generation of nystagmus and the associated sensation of vertigo.
• BPPV may be idiopathic, posttraumatic, or associated with viral neurolabyrinthitis.

Risk Factors