Bulletin of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery
ISSN 1829-006X
2025; 77–89
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THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EPLEY MANEUVER FOR BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO: A META-ANALYSIS

Khalid AlYahya*

Surgery department, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Hafouf, Saudi Arabia

Received: 2026-04-10 · Published: 2025-12-27

© 2025 The Author(s) and the original publisher.

CC BY-NC 4.0 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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Original title
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EPLEY MANEUVER FOR BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO: A META-ANALYSIS
Author
Khalid AlYahya
Source journal
Bulletin of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery
Published
2025-12-27
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Original
https://doi.org/10.58240/1829006X-2025.21.12-77

Abstract

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a leading cause of episodic vertigo, yet uncertainty persists regarding the magnitude and durability of benefit from the Epley canalith repositioning maneuver across clinical settings. We conducted a PRISMA 2020–guided systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized controlled studies and prospective clinical series that enrolled adolescents or adults with posterior-canal BPPV and evaluated the Epley maneuver delivered as a single or repeated/protocolized intervention. Primary outcomes were symptom resolution or conversion to a negative Dix–Hallpike test; secondary outcomes included recurrence and adverse events. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, the majority randomized or controlled. Across trials, the Epley maneuver produced substantially higher early resolution rates than sham, no treatment, or medication alone, with success commonly approaching 80–85% when repeat sessions were permitted. Comparisons with alternative maneuvers suggested broadly similar or modestly higher effectiveness and faster relief with Epley. Recurrence rates during follow-up were generally low, most often in the 10–15% range, and reported adverse events were infrequent and transient. Overall, the Epley maneuver appears to be a rapid, effective, and safe first-line treatment for posteriorcanal BPPV and should be widely implemented and protocolized in emergency, primary care, and specialty practice.
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