INTRODUCTION: BPPV is among the most common causes of peripheral vestibular dysfunction characterized by a brief period of vertigo and nystagmus. Repositioning maneuvers (Epley and Semont) have been shown to be effective in treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and simplicity of performing Epley and Semont maneuvers. METHODS: A total of 130 patients referred to the ENT clinic of Kashani Hospital, Isfahan were studied between April 2001 and September 2002. The patients were diagnosed with SPPV based on history and receiving Dix Hallpike maneuver therapy. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of 65 cases. Epley and Semont maneuvers were performed for both groups. Improvement after maneuver therapy (resolution of vertigo and nystagmus) at the end of the first and fourth weeks, and the third month was evaluated and analyzed with Mantel Hanzel test. The simplicity of performing the maneuvers was evaluated with visual analogue scale test. RESULTS: The rate of recovery with Epley and Semont maneuvers was 70.7% and 43.07%, respectivelyat the end of the first week (p = 0.01), 92.3% and 72.3% at the end of the fourth week (p = 0.01), and 93.84% and 76.92% at the end of the third month (p = 0.01). Patient satisfaction with Epley and Semont maneuvers was 92.3% and 96.92%, respectively (p = 0.321). DISCUSSION: The findings of this study support the use of maneuver therapy in SPPV. Epley maneuver proved more effective (p-value < 0.001), however, there was no meaningful difference between the two maneuvers in terms of simplicity of performance (p-value = 0.321).

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