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Long-term results of vestibular nerve section

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

A. K. Tewary ,
N. Riley  and
A. G. Kerr
A. K. Tewary
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
N. Riley
Affiliation:
Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK.
A. G. Kerr*
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr A. G. Kerr, Consultant Otolaryngologist, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA.
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Abstract

Records are available on 27 patients who had vestibular nerve section between 1975 and 1987 giving a follow-up time of 10 to 22 years with a mean of 16 years. Episodic vertigo was fully controlled in 26 patients, one needing a labyrinthectomy 18 months later.

In addition to the patient who had labyrinthectomy, one patient had immediate post-operative profound hearing loss so that long-term follow-up of hearing was possible in 25 patients. After six months there was an overall average improvement in hearing of 1 dB. Thereafter there were average deterioration of 7 dB at two years, 15 dB at 10 years, 23 dB at 15 years and 29 dB at 20 years. This deterioration was more marked in those who had better hearing at the time of surgery, with all 10 whose hearing was classified as good deteriorating to poor by 15 years. At 10 years hearing deteriorated by 25 dB in those with good hearing and by 7 dB in those with poor hearing. In 20 per cent of patients there was audiological evidence of eventual involvement of the other ear.

Tinnitus became worse in five patients but was a major problem in only one patient. One patient suffered a facial paralysis with partial recovery and, in addition, in one the frontal branch was divided in the incision.

Keywords

Menière's diseaseVertigoSurgeryVestibular nerveHearing loss, partialTinnitus
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 12 , December 1998 , pp. 1150 - 1153
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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