Abstract: Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of combining betahistine with Epley maneuver on vertigo disability and vestibular symptoms in patients with otolithiasis. Methods The information of 90 patients with otolithiasis was collated, all of which were indirectly diagnosed by the Eighth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from January 2021 to May 2024. All patients presented with vertigo disability and vestibular symptoms and were confirmed through nystagmus test and complex vestibular reflex test. The patients were randomly divided into a control group (treated with betahistine) and an observation group (treated with betahistine combined with Epley maneuver) based on the principle of random number table. The vertigo disability and balance ability scores before and after treatment, vestibular symptom scores after treatment, and clinical efficacy were collected and compared between the two groups. Results Before treatment, the vertigo disorder and balance ability scores of the two groups were comparable at baseline, and after treatment,the dizziness handicap scores in both groups decreased, and the balance ability scores increased simultaneously, but after treatment, the dizziness handicap scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the balance ability scores were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of six vestibular symptoms of dizziness, nausea, headache, vertigo, balance and visual sensitivity in the observation group were observably lower than the scores of six vestibular symptoms in the control group (P<0.05). The clinical efficacy rate in the observation group (95.56%) was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion For vertigo disorder and vestibular symptoms in patients with otolithiasis, betahistine combined with Epley maneuver reduction can improve vertigo disorder, alleviate vestibular symptoms, improve balance ability, and achieve better efficacy.

Key words: otolithiasis, dizziness disorder, vestibular symptoms, betamethasone, Epley technique for reduction, balance ability, curative effect