Types of Vertigo

Vertigo I do not wish anybody. Vertigo can be very very uncomfortable and debilitating for some people, and what happens is we’ve got the semicircular canal in the ear. And we have a fluid that gives us our equilibrium and we also have these crystals called an otolith and those line the ear. And if one comes loose, it can really set off somebody’s equilibrium. Now, with myself, I want to find out directly which canal that otolith is actually in. A lot of people that you go to just very commonly do the epley maneuver. However, whenever you do the maneuver to find out which canal this is in, you need to be looking at the nystagmus, and that’s actually going to be different eye movements whenever we hang your head back into extension or rotation with it. If your nystagmus is actually vertical, that’s going to be the superior anterior canal which you’d actually need to be using a deep head hanging maneuver. If your eyes go horizontally with horizontal nystagmus, it means that crystal is in the lateral canal. Being with that, you need to be using a Lempert maneuver. But then, if you have a rotational nystagmus, it means it’s going to be in the posterior canal and we do need to be using that Epley maneuver. So, if you are dealing with vertigo, be sure that you’re being very very specific and breaking down which canal, which will tell you which maneuver needs to be utilized.

Disclaimer

The information published in these vignettes is proprietary to Crovetti Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. While we have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained in the Vignettes is error free, we cannot and do not guarantee that the information or images are current, complete and/or accurate and we accept no responsibility for the same. Access to these Vignettes is granted to you for general information and education purposes only and does not constitute, in whole or part, professional medical advice of any nature, and is in no way a replacement or substitute for, or should be relied on in the absence of, professional advice from a certified and competent medical professional who practices in the relevant field of medicine. The information contained in this Vignettes is only intended for use, viewing and general reference by you and does not relate directly to your current medical condition or patient history. It is important to consult your medical practitioner or health care professional in relation to your own medical condition and needs.