Middle fossa vestibular nerve section. A histopathological report.

A patient with Meniere's disease underwent a middle fossa superior and inferior vestibular nerve section with excision of Scarpa's ganglia. Studies of this patient's temporal bone, conducted two and one-half years post-operatively, showed normal cochlear and facial nerves. The internal auditory canal showed fibrosis and new periosteal bone formation. There was complete denervation of the vestibular labyrinth except for the posterior semicircular canal crista. Fibrous and osteoid tissue filled the superior and lateral semicircular canals. In this case, these severe degenerative changes, presumably associated with biochemical changes in the vestibular labyrinth, altered the natural course of Meniere's disease. Vertigo was completely relieved, tinnitus improved, and hearing thresholds stabilized during the course of post-operative follow-up.