Vestibular neurectomy for dizziness after head trauma. A review of 28 patients.

28 patients with dizziness after head trauma were treated by vestibular neurectomy. Comparisons between the results of surgery and preoperative symptoms and findings showed that the best results were achieved in patients with episodic true vertigo and profound hearing loss. Patients who suffered from constant unsteadiness and/or postural vertigo usually improved, if both audiological and vestibular tests had shown clear pathology. Neurectomy gave poor results if functional tests had shown no pathology or reduced vestibular reaction only. The results support the view that in patients with post-traumatic unsteadiness not associated with hearing impairment, the symptoms probably originate from injury to vestibular pathways central to Scarpa's ganglion and these patients do not benefit by surgery.