Efficiency of the deep head hanging maneuver for anterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of this clinical study was to determine whether the deep head hanging maneuver (DH maneuver) is an efficacious treatment maneuver for anterior canalithiasis. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-two adult patients were recruited. Their ages ranged from 41-63 years, with an average age of 53 years. Ten patients were male, and twelve were female. Patients were judged to be "clear" of anterior canalithiasis when there was no nystagmus or subjective vertigo elicited by diagnostic positioning at a follow-up appointment. This study method was supported by other research using the same method. [Results] The results indicated that 77.3% of the twentytwo patients were clear of anterior canalithiasis after one treatment session, with another 18.1% clear after a second treatment session. The remaining 4.5% required a third treatment session. [Conclusion] The deep head hanging maneuver was demonstrated to be a useful treatment in patients presenting with possible anterior canalithiasis. Approximately 95% of the patients were clear after one or two deep head hanging maneuver sessions.