What is the main goal of canalith repositioning maneuvers in canalolithiasis?

• A. Move debris into the utricle
• B. Move debris out of the canal into the utricle
• C. Dissolve debris with medication
• D. Remove debris via ear canal

Answer: (B)

Relocating free-floating otoconia from the semicircular canal into the utricle using gravity-driven head maneuvers is the main goal. In canalolithiasis, crystals irritate the canal when the head moves, causing vertigo. The repositioning maneuvers are a sequence of head and body positions designed to use gravity to guide those crystals along the canal and into the utricle, where their movement won’t trigger the abnormal endolymph flow that produces vertigo. This approach treats the condition noninvasively by removing the debris from the sensitive part of the canal system. It isn’t about dissolving the debris or removing it through the ear canal; nor is it about pushing debris somewhere else in the ear—it's about getting them out of the canal to the utricle.