Hearing preservation in vestibular neurectomy

The goal of vestibular neurectomy is to control disabling vertigo while preserving hearing in patients with nonhydropic intractable peripheral vertigo or in patients with Meniere's disease in which an endolymphatic sac procedure has failed. Labyrinthectomy continues to be used to treat patients with intractable vertigo and serviceable hearing. We feel that a labyrinthectomy is contraindicated when any useful hearing remains. Vestibular neurectomy affords the surgeon a means to eliminate the abnormal vestibular input without sacrificing hearing. Two approaches have been used to section the vestibular nerves: the middle fossa approach since 1961 and the retrolabyrinthine approach more recently. Both approaches are effective in relieving vertigo while preserving hearing. This paper presents a statistical analysis of these two approaches. Although differences did exist, both were found to be highly successful in alleviating incapacitating vertigo and preserving hearing in a large percentage of patients.