Vestibular neurectomy performed through the middle fossa or retrolabyrinthine approach is an effective method of denervating the labyrinth while preserving residual hearing. In the authors' opinion, the retrolabyrinthine approach is easier to perform, takes less time, and places the facial nerve in less jeopardy than the middle fossa procedure. The results of 26 cases of retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy followed from six to 26 months indicate an 85% (22/26) cure rate of vertigo and a 79% (21/26) rate of hearing unchanged or improved.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Histologic study of the vestibulocochlear nerve.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cochlear Nerve↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Retrolabyrinthine surgery: a direct approach to the cerebellopontine angle.

The direct route to the cerebellopontine (CP) angle through the ear (retrolabyrinthine approach) represents a significant advance in neuro-otologic surgery. After incising the dura between the endolymphatic sac and the lateral venous sinus, a self-retaining retractor is used to collapse the lateral sinus, which provides a wide exposure of the CP angle, with visualization of the 5th through 11th cranial nerves. The retrolabyrinthine approach is a safe and direct route to the CP angle and has advantages over the suboccipital approach. Vestibular neurectomy through the retrolabyrinthine approach is the most frequently performed procedure and has replaced middle fossa vestibular neurectomy in our practice.

Aged↗