Does Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Surgery Resolve or Exacerbate Positional Vertigo?

Does Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Surgery Resolve or Exacerbate BPPV? Background/Objectives: BPPV is commonly found to be associated with other inner ear disorders. It has been found to occur with Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence (SSCD) as well as postoperatively following SSCD surgical repair. This paper will analyze the preoperative and postoperative incidence of positional vertigo in patients undergoing SSCD surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 50 consecutive patients with SSCD undergoing surgical repair. They were evaluated preoperatively, at 1 week postoperative, at 6 weeks postoperative, and at 12 weeks postoperative for evidence of BPPV. Information collected included demographics, the semicircular canal involved, type of BPPV, and whether the patient required canalith repositioning. Results: Preoperatively, 33 (66%) patients reported symptoms of positionally induced vertigo with confirmation during VNG testing. No patient was treated for BPPV prior to surgery. At one week postoperative, 17 (35%) patients continued to have symptoms of positionally induced vertigo; at 6 weeks postoperative, 9 (18%), and at 12 weeks postoperative, 5 (10%) patients had positional vertigo requiring canalith repositioning (p < 0.05). Three patients (6%) had no evidence of BPPV preoperatively but had positional vertigo at the one-week postoperative evaluation. At the 6-week post-op visit, only one of the patients had new-onset postoperative positional vertigo. At the 3-month visit, no patient had new-onset postoperative positional vertigo. Conclusions: BPPV and positional vertigo symptoms were found commonly prior to SSCD surgery and in the week after SSCD surgery. However, BPPV resolved by 6 weeks after SSCD surgery without additional intervention for most of these patients, while the others underwent canalith repositioning. A small percentage developed BPPV after surgery who had none preoperatively and in the contralateral ear.