Surgery for acoustic neurinoma. An analysis of 100 translabyrinthine operations

A consecutive series of 100 translabyrinthine operations for removal of acoustic neurinoma is reported. Complete tumor removal was achieved in 97% of cases. There were three perioperative deaths, and the postoperative morbidity rate was low. The facial nerve was preserved anatomically in 82% of patients. Preoperative facial weakness and tumor size larger than 2.5 cm were predictive of poor facial recovery. In patients with an intact nerve but complete facial palsy 1 week after surgery, electroneuronography was a good predictor of the final facial outcome and may influence the timing of rehabilitative procedures. With the exception of patients who have small tumors and good speech discrimination (where a suboccipital approach may preserve hearing acuity), the translabyrinthine operation is the procedure of choice for removal of acoustic neurinomas in patients who have normal hearing in the contralateral ear.