The Semont maneuver is primarily designed to treat which condition?

The Semont maneuver is specifically designed to treat cupulolithiasis, which is a type of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) caused by the displacement of otoconia (calcium carbonate crystals) onto the cupula of the semicircular canals. This maneuver aims to reposition the displaced particles away from the cupula, thereby alleviating the vertigo symptoms associated with this condition.

In the Semont maneuver, the patient is moved quickly from one side to the other, allowing gravity to help shift the otoconia back where they belong. This method is effective because it directly targets the issue of the cupula being affected by the displaced particles, making it the appropriate treatment for cupulolithiasis.

While the other conditions listed, such as Meniere's disease and canalithiasis, involve vestibular dysfunction, they are addressed by different therapeutic approaches. Canalithiasis, for instance, typically utilizes other maneuvers like the Epley maneuver, which is designed to treat another form of BPPV but involving free-floating particles in the semicircular canals rather than those stuck to the cupula. Thus, the Semont maneuver stands out as the most appropriate treatment option for cupulolithiasis specifically.