Successful management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in a patient who was ventilated with a C3 complete spinal injury on a regional spinal unit intensive care.

ABSTRACT

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) occurs in 14.5% of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and may require intervention on intensive care unit (ICU). A 61-year-old man was admitted to a spinal injury ICU with a traumatic C3 complete SCI following a mountain bike accident. Ventilated but stable he complained of severe dizziness on rolling, during personal cares, which lasted for 40 s. Clinical examination was limited due to the injury and ventilation. Subjective questioning, visio-ocular control and a modified Dix-Hallpike and roll tests confirmed a right posterior canalithiasis BPPV. A modified right Epley was performed with assistance of four people, medical supervision, monitoring of tracheal ventilation and vital signs. No adverse reaction was observed. Resolution of dizziness on rolling was achieved with no recurrence at 1 year. BPPV can be successfully and safely managed on ICU.