Transvestibular approach to the internal auditory canal

Summary--A surgical approach to the internal auditory canal is presented which as proved useful in the following circumstances: 1) as a destructive procedure in Ménière's disease, 2) as a diagnostic procedure in patients in whom an acoustic neurinoma is suspected and a labrinthectomy is indicated. In this situation the tumor may be removed during the same operative procedure, 3) for the removal of small, mobile, intracanalicular neurionomas, and 4) for complete facial nerve decompression in patients with no vestibular response and no serviceable hearing.