Retrosigmoid approach for vestibular neurectomy in Meniere's disease

Postoperative compensation after neurotomy in Meniere's disease: Retrospective study of 15 cases

INTRODUCTION

Vestibular neurotomy is a functional surgery for Meniere's disease in the event of medical treatment failure. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and complications of vestibular neurotomy, and to address the question of postoperative compensation.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

All patients included in this retrospective study underwent a vestibular neurotomy at our center between 2009 and 2016. A preoperative evaluation was performed including MRI, audiometry, and videonystagmography. The functional level of disability was evaluated by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) score. In all patients suboccipital retrosigmoid approach was performed. All patients underwent early postoperative vestibular rehabilitation. One month and two years after surgery, we assessed the effectiveness of treatment on dizziness, disability and imbalance. At the time of this study (2 to 8 years), DHI and patients' satisfaction by patient's global impression of change (PGIC) scale were evaluated.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients aged between 42 and 74 years of age were included in our study. Postoperative complications occurred in two patients (meningitis and a wound infection). At one month, all patients had a dramatic clinical improvement with decreased vertigo. Two years after surgery, 85% of the patients were cured and had no dizziness or balance disorder. Only one patient experienced bilateralization and only one had a persistent poor compensation.

CONCLUSION

Vestibular neurotomy is a very effective treatment in the case of Meniere's disease resistant to medical treatment, with very good functional results and an extremely low failure rate.

Fully Endoscopic Retrosigmoid Vestibular Nerve Section for Refractory Meniere Disease

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to report our results and technical details of fully endoscopic retrosigmoid vestibular nerve section.

DESIGN

A prospective observational study was conducted.

SETTING

A single academic, tertiary institution involving neurosurgery and neurotology.

PARTICIPANTS

Previously diagnosed patients with Meniere disease, refractory to medical therapy, who underwent fully endoscopic vestibular nerve section.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative improvement in vertiginous symptoms as well as hearing preservation, based on the American Association of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgeons score and the Gardener and Robertson-Modified Hearing Classification. Facial nerve preservation based on the House-Brackman (HB) score.

RESULTS

Symptoms improved or resolved in 38 of 41 (92.2%) patients with only 1 of 41 (2.4%) reporting worsening symptoms. All 41 patients (100%) had a postoperative HB score of 1/6, demonstrating full facial nerve preservation. Hearing was stable or improved in 34 of 41 (82.9%) patients. Three complications took place for a rate of 7.3%, one cerebrospinal fluid leak, and two wound infections.

CONCLUSION

The fully endoscopic approach to vestibular nerve sections is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of medically refractory Meniere disease. This technique also utilizes smaller incisions, minimal cranial openings, and no cerebellar retraction with improved visualization of the cerebellopontine angle neurovascular structures.

Two-handed endoscopic-directed vestibular nerve sectioning: case series and review of the literature

OBJECT

Vestibular nerve sectioning is an accepted surgical treatment option for patients with medically refractory Ménière disease. In this paper the authors introduce and evaluate a 2-handed endoscopic-directed technique for vestibular nerve section.

METHODS

Eleven patients underwent a retrosigmoid craniectomy for endoscopic-directed vestibular nerve sectioning as treatment for intractable vertigo associated with Ménière disease. In all patients, identification and dissection of the cranial nerve VII/VIII complex was performed entirely under endoscopic guidance. The authors used the specially designed Frazee II neuroendoscope, consisting of a traditional endoscope lens with a microsuction attachment.

RESULTS

Vestibular nerve sectioning was completed in all 11 patients. Postoperative improvement in vertiginous episodes was achieved in 10 patients (91%). Auditory function was noted to be worse postoperatively in only 1 patient (9%). The same patient also developed a House-Brackmann Grade III facial nerve palsy, which improved gradually over time. There were no further complications, including no delayed CSF leaks.

CONCLUSIONS

The endoscopic-directed approach represents a safe and effective method for performing vestibular nerve sectioning. Until now, the endoscope has been used primarily as an adjunct to the operating microscope in surgery at the cerebellopontine angle. In addition, previous endoscopic techniques typically require a third hand to manipulate the endoscope. With the 2-handed endoscopic-directed technique, however, the endoscope is used as the primary means of visualization, and the unique design of this endoscope allows for a bimanual procedure without the requirement of a cosurgeon. Advantages of using this technique compared with the microscope include superior brightness at close distances, greater depth of field, increased maneuverability within small regions, and an improved ability to visualize objects not in a direct line of sight. Among other things, this allows for minimally invasive openings, decreased cerebellar retraction, and better identification of nerve cleavage planes and vascular anatomy.

Evaluation of retrosigmoid vestibular neurectomy for intractable vertigo in Ménière's disease: an interdisciplinary review

BACKGROUND

Retrosigmoid vestibular neurectomy is suggested to be the most effective and safe procedure to control intractable vertigo associated with Ménière's disease. The purpose of this study is to report the excellent efficacy of vertigo control, the good preservation of hearing, the rare complications and the simplicity of retrosigmoid vestibular neurectomy performed by an interdisciplinary team of neurosurgery and otorhinolaryngology experts of our teaching hospital.

METHODS

Seventy-three patients with Ménière's disease who were refractory to medication or other surgical therapy were consecutively operated on over a period of 7 years. All the patients were referred to the senior author (CSL) for the surgery and were followed-up by the same neurootologist (JTL). The retrosigmoid approach for selective vestibular neurectomy was the only surgical method used in our neurosurgical facility. During surgery the separation line was made just at the cochleo-vestibular cleavage plane on the cochlear nerve to achieve a more complete sectioning of the vestibular fibres. To ensure accurate and complete data collection, patient data was prospectively entered into an electronic database, which was used subsequently for analysis of vertigo control, preservation of hearing, improvement in functional levels, and surgical complications.

RESULTS

Long-term excellent and good vertigo control were achieved in 69 (94.5%) and 4 (5.5%) patients respectively. Hearing was preserved to within 10 dB of the pre-operative pure-tone thresholds in 91.8% of patients at 1 month after the surgery. The functional levels improved to level 1 by a reduction of 3-5 points and became stabilised by 2 years of follow-up in all of our patients. No patient was worse post-operatively. Complications were uncommon and included superficial wound infection and transient partial facial paralysis in one patient each. Total hearing loss did not occur post-operatively. The mean operating time was 70 min.

CONCLUSION

Selective vestibular neurectomy via the retrosigmoid approach is an effective and simple neurosurgical procedure for the control of intractable vertigo in Ménière's disease while preserving hearing.