L16: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) assessment and treatment Flashcards
(118 cards)
What does BPPV stands for?
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
What is BPPV triggered by?
Movement
____ is the single most common cause of dizziness in adults
BPPV
BPPV accounts for 20% of all presentations with ______
dizziness
BPPV accounts for 30% of all dizziness in ______ patients (>65yrs)
older
BPPV accounts for 80% of all dizziness in older patients (>_____yrs)
80
BPPV is a ____ problem.
Mechanical
How does BPPV occur?
Hardened otoconia dislodge from the utricle and “float” into the semi‐circular canals
- Canal is a one way system

Which canals does BPPV occur in most?
Mostly in posterior canal or horizontal canal (if side sleeper)
What are otoconia?
calcium carbonate crystals
Dislodgement of otoconia normally occurs as a result of damage to the _____/_____.
utricle / saccule
What are 5 possible mechanisms of how BPPV occur?
Anything that damages the inner ear
- Recent head injury (18%) – most common cause in people under 50
- Vestibular neuritis – 15%
- Other disorders of the ear
- Degeneration with age
- No specific cause
_____ increases the risk of BPPV by 15%.
Vestibular neuronitis
What is canalithiasis?
otoconia is freely mobile in the canal
Act like pebbles of a stream
- Slow down the fluid on one side
- As long as stop moving = will stop being affected

What is the symptom of canalithiasis?
Dizziness typically lasts less than a minute

What is cupulolithiasis?
otoconia adhere to the cupula
- Gravity will stick the otoconia in cupula
- Permanently deflect the cupula (in that position)

What is the symptom of cupulolithiasis?
Dizziness typically lasts more than a minute but may eventually fatigue

What are the 2 types of BPPV?
- Canalithiasis
- Cupulolithiasis
What are the 3 semi-circular canals?
- Posterior SCC = extension / rotation
- Anterior SCC = flexion / rotation
- Horizontal SCC = rotation / rolling
What head position is the posterior semi-circular canal stimulated by?
extension / rotation
- When they look up = dizzy
What head position is the anterior semi-circular canal stimulated by?
flexion / rotation
- When they look forward= dizzy
What head position is the horizontal semi-circular canal stimulated by?
rotation / rolling
The _____ SCC is by far the most commonly affected canal by BPPV.
posterior
What are 5 typical BPPV symptoms
- brief episodes of vertigo – typically lasting < 1 min
- imbalance
- motion sensitivity
- nausea
- occasionally lightheadedness (Mismatch and something moving)




