Epley maneuver for treating dizziness in the emergency department
Official title: Evaluating the Efficacy of Epley Maneuver in the Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Run by American University of Beirut Medical Center · NCT07111000 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether doing the Epley maneuver, versus a sham maneuver, helps adults with posterior canal BPPV who come to the emergency department feel less dizzy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 118 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | American University of Beirut Medical Center Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | cyclophosphamide |
| Locations | 1 site (Beirut) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 1, 2024 |
| Main results expected | July 22, 2026 |
| Study ends | August 22, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | May 11, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07111000 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults over 18 who present to the ED with brief positional vertigo and a positive Dix-Hallpike test indicating posterior canal BPPV and who can give informed consent are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with contraindications such as severe cervical disease, unstable cardiovascular conditions, signs of vertebrobasilar disease, high-grade carotid stenosis, or other non-BPPV causes of dizziness are unlikely to benefit from the maneuver in this trial.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial enrolls adults presenting to the emergency department with posterior semicircular canal BPPV confirmed by a positive Dix-Hallpike test and randomizes them to either the Epley maneuver or a sham maneuver. Participants complete the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) at baseline and again three days after enrollment, and report immediate symptom response on a 0–10 Likert scale. The study also records how many participants who consented cannot complete the full Epley maneuver because of severe symptoms. Outcomes compare mean change in DHI scores, immediate Likert responses, and the proportion unable to finish the maneuver between the two arms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the Epley maneuver could provide faster, medication-free relief for BPPV-related dizziness in the emergency department.
How similar studies have gone: The Epley maneuver is well supported by prior trials for posterior canal BPPV in outpatient settings, though randomized sham-controlled data specifically from emergency department populations are more limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria * Age: above 18 years old * Patients presenting to the ED with symptoms of BPPV (single or recurrent episodes of vertigo lasting up to 2 minutes) and a positive DHT (episode of vertigo associated with torsional upbeating nystagmus) indicating a posterior semicircular canal BPPV. * Patients who are able to understand and provide a signed informed consent to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria * Severe cervical diseases (e.g., soft tissue disorders, cervical spondylosis, prolapsed intervertebral disks and severe rheumatoid arthritis with cervical instability …) * Unstable cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hemodynamically unstable, decompensated heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, decompensated valvular diseases, severe arrhythmias …) * Suspected vertebrobasilar diseases (e.g., cerebellar signs, vision changes, numbness or tingling in the extremities, slurred speech, changes in mental status, confusion …) * History of high-grade carotid stenosis * Recent (\<24 hours) intake of aminoglycosides, chemotherapeutic agents, cyclophosphamide, loop diuretics, or quinines * Patients with peripheral causes of vertigo other than BPPV (such as Meniere's disease or vestibular neuritis) * Patients with central causes of vertigo (vestibular migraine, Arnold Chiari malformation, history of CNS tumor(s), multiple sclerosis) * Patients with focal deficits on neurological exam * Patients with an episode of vertigo lasting more than 2 minutes * Patients with a negative DHT * Patients with pure horizontal or vertical nystagmus * Patients with lateral and anterior semicircular canals BPPV * Participants refusing to undergo Epley maneuver * Pregnancy beyond the 24th week of gestation
Where it's running
-
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Eveline Hitti, MD
- Email: eh16@aub.edu.lb
- Phone: 00961-1-350000
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Epley vs. Semont-plus maneuver for posterior canal BPPV
This trial tests whether the Epley maneuver or the Semont-plus maneuver more effectively treat posterior canal BPPV in adults.
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Vitamin D Deficiency and BPPV: Is Low Vitamin D Linked to Vertigo Recurrence?
This observational study tests whether adults with BPPV have different vitamin D levels compared with adults without dizziness at a hospital in Sohag, Egypt.
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This study is testing if simple balance tests for dizziness in older adults can help find hidden cases of BPPV and improve their quality of life while reducing their fall risk.
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This study is testing whether using Wii Fit training or traditional vestibular rehab helps people with vertigo improve their balance better.
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Personalized treatment for persistent vertigo caused by BPPV
This study is testing if personalized treatments for vertigo, based on each person's unique inner ear structure, can help people who haven't found relief from standard methods for BPPV.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.