Virtual Reality (VR) Environment Supports Performance of Positioning Manoeuvres for the Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Introduction:

Currently, the golden standard in treating Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) consists of a variety of specific repositioning and liberation manoeuvres, due to ease of performance, low morbidity and high success rate. For a favourable outcome, exact determination of the affected side and semicircular canal is essential. In the past, smartphone based applications for professional use have been developed.

Experimentees and

Methods:

We transferred a simple virtual reality environment to a commercially available smartphone, which is worn by the patient using VR spectacles. The environment consists of virtual anchor points in space which are consecutively addressed by the person performing body and head movements in a given order. The required motions are arranged in a way that they represent proven repositioning manoeuvres (e.g. Epley, Asprella-Gufoni).

Results:

The principle of repositioning manoeuvres can be transferred into virtual space by current VR software in a way that patients are not required to perform movements read and rehearsed beforehand. First feedback indicates that experimentees consider this as a major advantage over printed brochures.

Conclusions:

The principle of VR-based support for effectively treating BPPV by positioning manoeuvres is generally feasible. Wide availability of smartphones with built-in gyrometers and VR displays in the form of simple strap-on spectacles is helpful. Nonetheless, exact diagnosis of BPPV by an ENT specialist, the affected semicircular canal and the affected side are mandatory -as well as patient accompaniment when using VR devices for this purpose.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)