OBJECTIVES: Traumatic brain injury commonly causes dizziness and balance problems. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most frequent cause of inner-ear related post-traumatic vestibular dysfunction. However, optimal assessment and treatment practices are poorly evidenced. Using a mixed methods approach, we aimed to explore the feasibility of managing post-traumatic BPPV.
No practice change is warranted yet; this is a feasibility study establishing groundwork for a future definitive RCT on post-traumatic BPPV management — current findings are not powered for efficacy conclusions.
Post-traumatic BPPV is a commonly encountered but under-studied condition; this feasibility work is an important step toward evidence-based treatment protocols for a population that often differs from idiopathic BPPV patients.
- 01UK multicentre randomised feasibility study — not powered to detect treatment efficacy.
- 02Focuses on post-traumatic BPPV, a subtype with distinct features from idiopathic BPPV.
- 03Mixed-methods design includes both quantitative outcomes and patient/clinician qualitative experience.
- 04Published in BMJ Open (2026); results will inform design of a future full-scale RCT.
- 05Feasibility metrics (recruitment rate, retention, protocol adherence) are the primary outputs.
A multicentre RCT for post-traumatic BPPV management is feasible within UK NHS settings.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42303391
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117657.
- Journal
- BMJ Open
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 1b
- Population
- Adults with post-traumatic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) across multiple UK centres
- Intervention
- Management strategies for post-traumatic BPPV (specific repositioning or treatment protocols)
- Comparator
- Comparator arm(s) as per feasibility RCT protocol (details not specified in title/abstract)
Primary outcomes
Feasibility outcomes (recruitment rate, retention, protocol adherence); Patient-reported experience measures (qualitative mixed-methods)