[Functional outcomes after translabyrinthine approach for vestibular schwannomas].

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to present the functional outcomes after translabyrinthine approach (TLA) for vestibular schwannoma (VS). We analyzed data from 95 patients who had undergone surgery on between 1991 and 2001.

METHODS

This retrospective study of clinical and radiological data concerned 95 patients operated on by TLA for a unilateral vestibular schwannoma, excluding NF2 patients and those who have been operated on after a gamma-knife treatment. Results were evaluated with at least 2 Years follow-up and compared with recent data in the literature.

RESULTS

Complete tumor removal was achieved in 84% of cases. The facial nerve was normal at the end of the operative procedure in 85%. Facial nerve function was evaluated in 90 patients with two Years follow-up: 62% were grade I or II according to the House and Brackmann scale, 21% were grade III and 16.5% grade IV to VI. CSF leakage was noted in 8.4% including rhinorrhea in 4.2%. No deaths occurred during this period.

CONCLUSION

The results related here show that TLA is a safe and efficient procedure for the removal of large acoustic neuromas.