Vestibular neurectomy in the treatment of Meniere's disease
Thomsen, J.C.; Berner, A.S.; Tos, M.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 162(41): 5501-5503
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 11068527 Document Number: 525521
A brief history of vestibular neurectomy is given. This treatment was introduced in Denmark by us, based upon our large experience with translabyrinthine removal of vestibular schwannomas. Includes all patients (43 operations in 42 patients) who had section of the vestibular nerve performed in the period from 1980 to 1996. Mean age was 51 years and the postoperative observation period varied from 2 to 15 years, mean 6.4 years. The vertigo was under control in 88% of the patients. Fourteen patients developed some imbalance after surgery caused by the abolished vestibular function in the ear involved. Thirty-nine patients indicated satisfaction with the operation, 92% retained their preoperative hearing. Only few and slight complications were seen, including two re-operations for CSF leaks and a slight transient facial nerve paresis. The results are in accordance with those obtained by other authors, and retrosigmoid section of the vestibular nerves is an effective treatment of vertigo refractory to other treatment modalities. In order to reduce the patients' worries about undergoing an intracranial intervention it is important to inform the patients and patients' associations about the good results obtained by this treatment and in particular to inform about the very few complications. Due to the limited number of patients needing this treatment, and the need for surgical experience in order to maintain the favorable results, centralization of the treatment is mandatory.