The canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) is a painless, non-invasive procedure that was developed about 20 years ago. Dr. Huntoon has taken a number of courses sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology to learn how to diagnose positional vertigo and how to perform CRP properly.
The procedure involves turning the head from one side to the other, using gravity to move loose calcium carbonate particles out of an area in the inner ear where they cause vertigo, into another area where they do not cause vertigo.
Prior to performing the procedure, Dr. Huntoon takes your medical history and does a focused neurologic examination to make sure that your vertigo is due to an inner ear problem and not due to a problem in the brain. Following the neurologic examination, Dr. Huntoon performs the Dix-Hallpike maneuver (where your head hangs over the back of the exam table) so as to diagnose positional vertigo. The Dix-Hallpike maneuver typically causes you to have brief vertigo, which is helpful in diagnosing positional vertigo and tells the doctor what side and what canal in the inner ear is involved.
The entire office visit lasts about 45 minutes. The CRP procedure itself takes only a few minutes.
Studies have shown that CRP treatment is effective in resolving positional vertigo about 80% of the time.
There is a 25% recurrence rate of positional vertigo in 1 year, and a
44% recurrence rate in 2 years.
The CRP maneuver can be performed again if positional vertigo recurs.