LONG TERM RESULTS IN MENIERE'S DISEASE FOLLOWING RETROSIGMOID VESTIBULAR NEUROTOMY.
J. Magnan, A. Chays, M. Bruzzo, E. Ulmer
University Aix - Marseille II Hopital Nord –
13915 - MARSEILLE Cedex 20 FRANCE).
Since 1974, the authors have performed 225 retrosigmoid vestibular neurotomies to treat incapacitating Meniere's disease. In a long term (over five years) out of the 171 patients reviewed, 95 % considered the operation a success. Recurrent vertigo appeared in four cases due to bilateralization of the disease. Vestibular neurotomy is not only an effective way to control incapacitating vertigo, but also the best way to preserve hearing.
Pre operative and postoperative variances for pure tone average scores followed a "bell curve" and statistically did not show a change in hearing. The factors that may influence post-operative hearing after vestibular neurotomy are transection of the efferent cochlear fibers and central compensation of vestibular deficit. These findings suggest that surgery should be performed at an early stage of Meniere's disease in order to preserve hearing in the affected ear.