[Cochlear and facial nerve function after surgery of acoustic neuroma]

Oto-neuro-surgical teams of Bordeaux University Hospital operated at this day, 700 acoustic neuroma. A retrospective study of the 120 last cases has shown the facial function be abnormal clinically in 16% of cases and in 50% from the electrophysiological point of view. Immediately after surgery: 39% have normal function (grade I), 22% have partial palsy (grades II, III, IV), 39% have total palsy. With 3 months follow up these percentages improve to become respectively 53%, 34% and 13%. For the cochlear function, 28 patients had good hearing before surgery (average pure tone threshold less than or equal to 35 dB and speech discrimination score greater than or equal to 70%). Results depend on the size of the tumour and on the difficulty of dissection during surgery. The hearing could be preserved at a good level in 8 patients (28.5%).