[Sensorineural hearing loss following the decompression of the facial nerve]

This study aims to ascertain whether sensorineural hearing loss occurs after the decompression of the facial nerve. Nine patients have undergone decompression of the facial nerve (limited to the vertical segment) by the transmastoid approach were selected as the subjects of this study because the influence of disinfectants and surgical trauma on the inner ear seems to be less severe in this operation than in tympanoplasty. Additionally, this approach seems to be more suitable for judgement of the effect of the drilling noise induced acoustic trauma on the inner ear than tympanoplasty. Though high tone abrupt sensorineural hearing loss was occurred in the operated ear in seven patients, no changes in hearing level were found in the contralateral side ear. Bekesy audiometry performed in only one case revealed Jerger II which suggested some disorder in the cochlea. Not only acoustic trauma induced by the drilling noise but also labyrinthitis occurred via the opened facial canal and the internal ear canal seemed to be the cause of sensorineural hearing loss following the decompression of the facial nerve.