VESTIBULAR SCHWANNOMA SURGERY WITH TRANSLABYRINTHINE APPROACH: RESULTS AND COMPLICATIONS
1Bursa Uludağ University Medicine Faculty, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Bursa, Turkey Objective: Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors originating from Schwann cells in the vestibulocochlear nerve. Although they are benign tumors, they can cause serious problems. The aim of our study was to present the clinical features and complications of VS cases that were operated with translabyrinthine approach.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 11 VS patients who operated with translabyrinthine approach. Demographic data, symptoms, preoperative audiometric tests, tumor sizes, postoperative complications, hospital stay time were examined. Preoperative and postoperative facial nerve (FN) functions were evaluated with the House Brackmann (HB) grading system. The House grading system was used for tumor staging: Grade 1≤10 mm, grade 2≤ 20mm, grade 3≤30mm, grade 4≤40 mm and grade 5> 40 mm.
Results: 5 male and 6 female patients included the study. Mean age of the patients were 50.4 years (range, 18-66 years). The tumor was located on the left side in 7 patients. Grade 1 tumor was determined in 2 patients, Grade 2 in 5 patients and Grade 3 in 4 patients. The most common symptoms were tinnitus and hearing loss. In 1 patient cerebrospinal fluid fistula appeared. In one case, the integrity of the facial nerve had been disrupted during the operation. In 2 patients with these complications, the tumor was grade 3
Conclusion: VS surgery with translabyrinthine approach is a method with low complication rates and mortality. The most common early and late postoperative complication is facial paralysis.
Keywords : Vestibular schwannoma, acoustic neuroma, translabyrinthine, complications, House Brackmann