Persistent dizziness after surgical treatment of vertigo: an exploratory study of prognostic factors

Persistent vertigo and imbalance can occur after surgery for vertigo regardless of surgical approach. This study explored for factors affecting outcome of vertigo surgery.

Patient survey and chart review.

Tertiary referral neurotologic private practice.

Of 111 patients (57.7% female; mean age, 52.3 yr), 59 underwent vestibular nerve section (middle fossa, retrolabyrinthine, and translabyrinthine), 25 underwent transmastoid labyrinthectomy, and 27 underwent endolymphatic sac shunt. Eighty-three percent had Ménière's disease. Mean follow-up was 4.3 years.

Primary outcomes included American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) vertigo score and class, number of spells per month, current and change in AAO-HNS disability rating, vertigo and imbalance severity ratings, and frequency of imbalance.

Three preoperative factors were consistently related to outcome: AAO-HNS disability rating, imbalance frequency rating, and duration of first symptom ([rho] = 0.19-0.51; all p's < 0.05). Greater disability and more frequent imbalance related to poorer outcome, but longer duration of disease related to better outcome. Presurgery vertigo characteristics were generally not related to outcome. Ménière's patients were more likely to have improvement in imbalance, as were those with no other significant disease and no allergy. The presence of tinnitus in the contralateral ear was associated with poorer outcomes, including a lower rate of results of Classes A and B (p = 0.023). Vertigo as a first symptom and the presence of eye disease also showed relationships to poorer outcome.

Those rating themselves as more disabled before surgery are less likely to achieve the best outcomes, whereas frequency and severity of preoperative vertigo are not predictive. Several possible prognostic factors were identified that warrant future prospective study.