Dix-Hallpike Test

Description

• What is the actual eponymous medical sign/syndrome/repair/classification…

History

1952 – Margaret Dix and Charles Hallpike published a landmark paper in neuro-otology, looking at the three most common peripheral vertigo diseases: Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis and benign paroxysmal positional nystagmus.

They described a clinical bedside manoeuvre in detail, “Lagerungs Manoeuvre”, known now as the Dix-Hallpike test, to provide an immediate diagnosis of BPPV

Associated Persons

• Róbert Bárány (1876 – 1936)
• Margaret Ruth Dix (1902 – 1991)
• Charles Skinner Hallpike (1900 – 1979)

Alternative names

• Lagerungs Manoeuvre

Controversies

• Did they first describe or popularise or plagiarise?

References

• Bárány R. Die nervosen Storungen des Cochlear- und Vestibularapparates. In: Handbuch der Neurologie [Lewandowsky M (ed.)] 1910; I(IV): 919-958
• Dix MR, Hallpike CS. The pathology symptomatology and diagnosis of certain common disorders of the vestibular system. Proc R Soc Med. 1952; 45(6): 341-54
• Dix MR, Hallpike CS. The pathology, symptomatology and diagnosis of certain common disorders of the vestibular system. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1952; 61(4): 987-1016.