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Translabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy and simultaneous cochlear implant for Ménière’s disease

  • Clinical Article - Neurosurgical Techniques
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Abstract

Background

Surgical management of Ménière’s disease (MD) is recommended in case of medical and intratympanic treatment failures. Translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section has been considered the gold standard for denervation procedures in order to control vertigo attacks, although at the cost of sacrificing residual hearing. To the best of our knowledge, no work has been published with regard to a group of patients submitted to translabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy and simultaneous cochlear implant for MD. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section and simultaneous cochlear implant in a prospective study.

Methods

All adult patients (over 18 years of age) with a diagnosis of intractable unilateral definite MD and useless residual hearing function were enrolled after medical and intratympanic treatment failures. Pre- and postoperative otoneurological evaluation concerned: frequency of vertigo attacks, head impulse test and caloric testing, pure tone average and speech perception audiometry in quiet conditions, tinnitus handicap inventory test, functional level scale and rate of vertigo control, dizziness handicap inventory test, and MD patient-oriented severity index. At least 6 months of follow-up were needed to be enrolled in the study.

Results

Four patients were included in the study. Translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section and simultaneous cochlear implant seemed to considerably improve the disabling effects of MD, achieving a good control of vestibular symptoms (mean pre/postoperative vertigo attacks per month: 16.5/0), resolving hearing loss (mean pre/postoperative pure tone average in the affected ear: 86.2/32.5 dB), improving the tinnitus (mean pre/postoperative tinnitus handicap inventory test: 77.2/6), and finally increasing the overall quality-of-life parameters.

Conclusions

In our preliminary report, translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section and simultaneous cochlear implant showed encouraging results in order to definitively control both vestibular and cochlear symptoms during the same therapeutic procedure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico “S. Matteo” Foundation, Viale Camillo Golgi, 19, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Pietro Canzi, Marco Manfrin, Federico Aprile, Silvia Quaglieri, Elisabetta Rebecchi, Giulia Locatelli & Marco Benazzo

  2. Neurosurgery Unit, Ospedale Civile “SS Antonio Biagio and C. Arrigo”, Alessandria, Italy

    Marco Perotti

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  1. Pietro Canzi
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  2. Marco Manfrin
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  3. Marco Perotti
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  4. Federico Aprile
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Correspondence to Pietro Canzi.

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Canzi, P., Manfrin, M., Perotti, M. et al. Translabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy and simultaneous cochlear implant for Ménière’s disease. Acta Neurochir 159, 123–130 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-016-2996-9

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