Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common vestibular disorder. Previous studies have reported diverse and conflicting results regarding the incidence of BPPV after head trauma (t-BPPV). The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of t-BPPV in patients presenting at a hospital emergency department (ED) with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to assess its risk factors.
Audiologists and vestibular specialists should maintain a heightened index of suspicion for BPPV when evaluating patients with a history of mild traumatic brain injury, as co-occurrence may be underdiagnosed without systematic positional testing.
Understanding the link between mild TBI and BPPV can improve early identification and treatment of a treatable dizziness disorder in a population often managed across multiple specialties.
- 01Multidisciplinary study examining BPPV incidence specifically in mild TBI patients.
- 02BPPV (spinning dizziness from inner ear crystal displacement) may be triggered or unmasked by head trauma.
- 03A collaborative clinical approach across neurology, audiology, and rehabilitation is emphasized.
- 04Standard positional testing (e.g., Dix-Hallpike) may be essential for this patient group.
- 05Published in a peer-reviewed journal (DOI: 10.65717/iao.2026.252084).
Mild traumatic brain injury is associated with an increased incidence of BPPV.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42345429
- DOI
- 10.65717/iao.2026.252084.
- Journal
- International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Patients with mild traumatic brain injury assessed for BPPV
- Intervention
- Assessment for BPPV incidence and characteristics following mild TBI
Primary outcomes
Incidence of BPPV in mild TBI patients; Clinical characteristics of BPPV post-mild TBI