Hearing after retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy

Thirty-four patients underwent vestibular neurectomies between September 1984 and January 1989. The first 15 patients operated on through January 1987 (and followed for a minimum of 2 years) were evaluated separately for long-term hearing preservation and freedom from vertigo spells. Audiograms taken at 1 postoperative month revealed no change in the pure tone averages of 25 patients and showed improved hearing of 20 to 30 dB in 5 patients. Two patients sustained losses of 18.5 dB and 21 dB, respectively. The speech discrimination scores remained the same in 17 patients, improved in 9, and were reduced in 6. Audiograms performed 12 to 40 months postoperatively showed preservation of the pure tone averages and speech discrimination scores when compared with the earlier 1-month postoperative audiograms in 73% of the patients. The speech discrimination scores, however, tended to fluctuate with the symptomatic course of each disease. Two patients developed major vertigo spells 1 1/2 years following surgery. Postoperative ice-caloric testing revealed no responses in 25 patients and markedly reduced responses in 6. There were no major complications or facial paralysis. The retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy is an effective way to control vertigo with preservation of hearing and an acceptably low incidence of complications and side effects.