1. [Post-traumatic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; an underdiagnosed cause of dizziness following trauma].
- Author
-
Huang W, Hoogervorst ELJ, Kupperman D, and Wessels PH
- Subjects
- Adult, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo etiology, Craniocerebral Trauma complications, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo diagnosis, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo therapy, Dizziness etiology, Dizziness therapy, Patient Positioning
- Abstract
Dizziness is a frequently reported symptom following head trauma. Although often ascribed to concussion, post-traumatic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) must be included in the differential diagnosis. In this article, three patients who attended a neurology outpatient clinic with persistent dizziness following head trauma were ultimately diagnosed with post-traumatic BPPV. Dizziness lessened substantially once a canalith repositional manoeuvre was performed. Patients with post-traumatic BPPV are generally younger, report more severe symptoms and have a higher rate of relapse. Diagnosing post-traumatic BPPV can be challenging due to the presence of more urgent injuries in the initial phase and the habitual attribution of symptoms to concussion. A timely diagnosis is crucial, however, since treatment is easy to perform, non-invasive and effective.
- Published
- 2019