[Functional deficits of caudal cranial nerves after surgery of tumors in the foramen jugulare. A long-term follow-up study].

Jugular foramen tumors involve a critical area of the skull base. Usually they are characterized by palsy of the ninth, tenth, and eleventh cranial nerves. Depending on the extent of the tumor there are various approaches to the skull base and various surgical strategies to preserve the cranial nerves. The study is based on 31 patients who were operated on between 1982 and 1989 at the University ENT and Neurosurgery Departments in Freiburg and Mainz. The neurological findings were analyzed on admission, on discharge, and in the follow-up. While there was partial or complete dysfunction of the lower cranial nerves on discharge, long-term compensation was excellent. All patients were able to breath normally and maintain their weight by oral diet. Rerouting of the facial nerve endangers its postoperative function. Nevertheless, the long-term follow-up demonstrated excellent recovery and good functional and cosmetic results.