Open AccessDo physicians who manage head injuries also diagnose and treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in patients with head injuries?
Author(s) -
M. Khalid,
Khalid Bashir,
Sameh Zayed,
Saleem Farook
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of emergency medicine, trauma and acute care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.27
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1999-7094
pISSN - 1999-7086
DOI - 10.5339/jemtac.2016.icepq.108
Subject(s) - benign paroxysmal positional vertigo , medicine , neurosurgery , head injury , nystagmus , vertigo , emergency department , head trauma , physical therapy , otorhinolaryngology , emergency medicine , medical emergency , surgery , psychiatry
Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common medical condition. According to recent literature, it is prevalent in about 28% of the head injury patients. BPPV can be easily diagnosed in the Emergency Department (ED) by a simple bedside Dix-Hallpike test, in which patients experience vertigo and nystagmus as observed by the physician. It can be treated effectively in the ED by the Epley maneuver. In 2014, over 3,000 patients presented the ED at Hamad General Hospital with a head injury. Hospital guidelines often do not explicitly include BPPV symptoms as a possible complication of head injury. This may result in the physician being unable to manage BPPV, leading to longer sufferings for the patients. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate current practice amongst physicians in a tertiary care hospital when managing BPPV in head injury patients. Methods: Physicians working in Emergency Medicine, neurosurgery, trauma, and orthopaedics were asked to complete a paper based question survey. Results: A total of 91 physicians completed the survey. 95.5% (n = 85) specified that they manage head injuries in their clinical practice. Only 29.6% (n = 27) indicated that they routinely investigate the possibility of BPPV in head injury patients. 73.6% (n = 67) stated lack of knowledge of BPPV and training in management to be the main reasons for not exploring BPPV. 91.1% (n = 83) stated willingness to receive further training in the management of BPPV. Conclusion: In this study, physicians, when dealing with head injuries, were found not routinely diagnosing and managing BPPV. Lack of knowledge and training about this condition has been stated as the most common reasons for not exploring possibility of BPPV in head injury patients. The study confirms the need for training of physicians in managing this important condition early to prevent further disability in patients.