Labyrinthectomy: Indications, technique and results

The patient with unilateral useless hearing and persistent symptoms of labyrinthine vertigo, aural tinnitus, pressure, distortion of sound or efferent involvement of hearing in the opposite normal ear, can benefit from destructive labyrinthectomy. Three techniques to accomplish this end are transcanal labyrinthectomy, postauricular labyrinthectomy and translabyrinthine section of the VIIIth cranial nerve. The acoustic end‐organ is extremely resistant to surgical assault. Residual function following incomplete destruction often subjects the patient to persistent, unpleasant symptoms. The technique to accomplish effectively each of the three procedures is described and the results of 93 operations are reviewed to demonstrate their effectiveness.