Cost-effective management of benign positional vertigo using canalith repositioning.

OBJECTIVE: The misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of benign positional vertigo have resulted in significant costs to the medical system. In the current medical-economic climate, there is an increased emphasis on cost control. Recent studies have shown that the canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) is effective; the next step is to show the impact of CRP in cost-effective management of benign positional vertigo.

METHODS: Forty-six of 100 patients who underwent CRP for benign positional vertigo responded to a survey regarding the financial impact of their disease. They were asked to subjectively estimate the sum of all disease-related expenses. Objective substantiation of this number was estimated by tabulating physician data, laboratory data, and failed treatment costs.

RESULTS: The subjective figure totaled $2684.74 per individual. Summation of the tangible objective figures yielded $2009.63 per patient, corroborating the subjective figure.

CONCLUSIONS: Because CRP is a relatively simple procedure that can obviate many wasted expenses in most patients, we believe that it is very cost-effective and should be incorporated into routine practice.