Balance impairment after acoustic neuroma surgery. |
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Authors: | Davide Tufarelli Annalisa Meli Francesca Sylos Labini Carlo Badaracco Ezio De Angelis Annalisa Alesii Maurizio Falcioni Mario Sanna |
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Affiliation: | ENT Rehabilitation Unit, San Raffaele Pisana Scientific Institute Tosinvest Sanita, Italy. davide.tufarelli@sanraffaele.it |
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Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of balance problems after acoustic neuroma surgery, evaluating whether disequilibrium is disabling. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Rehabilitation center. PATIENTS: A group of 386 patients who underwent acoustic neuroma surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were selected from a population of 459 subjects who had undergone surgery for acoustic neuroma. MEAN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Dizziness Handicap Inventory, The Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), and a specific questionnaire on oscillopsia. RESULTS: The specific questionnaire emphasized that 39 patients (10.10%) perceived disequilibrium as disabling, and the oscillopsia handicap score result was moderate in 73.32% of the sample, mild in 21.50%, and severe in 5.18% of patients. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory and ABC scales revealed the presence of handicap and disability due to disequilibrium and the influence of some variables such as sex and a higher oscillopsia handicap score. Dizziness Handicap Inventory and ABC scores were higher in symptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: Disequilibrium influences handicap and disability after acoustic neuroma surgery. This symptom is also present after several years since surgery, and some patients perceived disequilibrium as disabling. |
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