Disability from vestibular symptoms after acoustic neuroma resection.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the recovery of balance function after acoustic neuroma resection.

STUDY DESIGN

This study was a retrospective case review with patient survey.

SETTING

The surgery was conducted at a tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Patients who underwent surgical resection of acoustic neuroma and had preoperative vestibular function testing were eligible for entering the study.

INTERVENTIONS

All patients received surgical resection of acoustic neuroma. Patients treated since 1990 received postoperative vestibular habituation exercises.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

These included postoperative symptom and disability scores, dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) total and subset scores, time after surgery at which patients were able to walk independently, whether patients returned to their usual professional responsibility, and time to return to full activities at work.

RESULTS

Significant correlation was found between several preoperative symptoms and vestibular testing results and the resulting postoperative disability from dizziness.

CONCLUSIONS

This information may be helpful in counseling patients before surgery with respect to the degree of postoperative dysequilibrium and may suggest that the clinician should initiate more aggressive vestibular rehabilitation exercises in patients who may be at greater risk of having persistent dysequilibrium develop after surgery.