Publication:

Position test with video Frenzel: does it have an added advantage compared to position test without video Frenzel?

Background Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common peripheral vestibular disorder that affects 2.4% of the population at any point in their lifetime. The diagnosis of this condition using positional tests has been a major milestone, largely due to the eminent work of Robert Bárány, Margaret Dix, and Charles Hallpike, who devised the positional test. As research and innovations progressed, Frenzel glasses—used to identify nystagmus clearly—and video-Frenzel system, which magnify and record nystagmus, became prevalent.

Methods A prospective study was conducted on 118 patients with symptoms suggestive of BPPV. Initially, the positional test was performed without Frenzel glasses. After 15 minutes, the test was repeated with video-Frenzel.

Results Results were analyzed using the chi-square test. A statistically significant increase in the detection rate of BPPV and multi-canal BPPV was observed when the positional test was performed with video-Frenzel.

Conclusions Hence, we recommend performing the positional test with video-Frenzel in suspected BPPV cases.