OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic efficacies of the Epley maneuver and Brandt-Daroff (BD) exercise in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the posterior semicircular canal cupulolithiasis (PC-BPPV-cu). METHODS: We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the Epley maneuver and BD exercise in patients with PC-BPPV-cu. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo the Epley maneuver (n = 29) or BD exercise (n = 33). The primary outcome was an immediate resolution of positional nystagmus within 1 h after a single treatment of each maneuver on the visit day. Secondary outcomes included the resolution of positional nystagmus at 1 week, the change of maximal slow phase velocity (mSPV) of positional nystagmus, and dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) immediately and at 1 week. RESULTS: Immediate resolution occurred in none of 29 patients in the Epley maneuver group and only 1 of 33 patients in the BD exercise group. The Epley maneuver and BD exercise had an equivalent effect at 1 week in treating PC-BPPV-cu in terms of resolving positional nystagmus (48 versus 36%, p = 0.436) and the decrease of mSPV and DHI. CONCLUSION: Neither the Epley maneuver nor BD exercise has an immediate therapeutic effect in treating PC-BPPV-cu. Clear classification of PC-BPPV should be required at the time of different pathology and different treatment response.

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