Tinnitus and translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma surgery

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma surgery on tinnitus in a consecutive sample of patients operated on between 1988 and 1994 in Uppsala (Sweden). A postal questionnaire was returned by 141 patients, yielding a 90% response rate without reminder. The results showed that tinnitus was experienced by 70% of the patients before surgery and 60% after surgery. In general, low degrees of tinnitus distress were found, which was confirmed by the questionnaire results. Ratings of tinnitus distress after surgery, using the Klockhoff and Lindblom grading system, showed that 48% had tinnitus of grade I, 46% of grade II, and 6% of grade III. Pre- and postsurgery grading of distress did not change significantly. There was a 35% risk for developing tinnitus when no preoperative tinnitus was present and a 15% chance that tinnitus disappears when present preoperatively.