Vestibular nerve section via retrolabyrinthine craniotomy

Publication date: Available online 20 August 2019Source: Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck SurgeryAuthor(s): Zachary R. Barnard, Gregory P. Lekovic, Eric P. Wilkinson, Kevin A. PengMeniere's disease can cause debilitating dizziness and vertigo despite maximal medical management. In select patients, treatment with vestibular nerve section provides optimal outcomes for symptom control and hearing preservation. Vestibular nerve section is also indicated in other vestibular disorders, including refractory uncompensated vestibular neuritis. Surgical approaches for vestibular nerve section include the retrolabyrinthine, retrosigmoid, middle fossa, and translabyrinthine craniotomies. The advantages of the retrolabyrinthine approach include rapid access, excellent visualization of the facial and cochlear nerves, and the possibility of hearing preservation in conjunction with consistent outcomes for vestibular symptoms. In this chapter, we discuss the retrolabyrinthine approach for vestibular nerve section, providing the reader with an overview of when, why, and how to employ the technique.
Source: Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research