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Microsurgical extirpation is one of the basic modalities of treatment for patients with vestibular schwannoma. Considering the significant decrease in mortality and morbidity of patients with vestibular schwannoma in the past decades, the quality of life has become the most important criterion of current treatment management. Despite the great scientific and technological progress in the surgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma, we can encounter a number of serious complications that can have a major impact on the quality of life. A number of questionnaire studies confirm that these are mainly postoperative facial nerve lesion, dizziness and long-term headache. In contrast, tinnitus or unilateral hearing loss may be a less serious handicap in terms of overall quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A facial nerve lesion causes serious health complications and leads to a general deterioration of the quality of life. A facial nerve lesion relatively often occurs as a complication of surgery of the parotid gland and skull base tumors. Non-surgical methods focus mainly on long-term rehabilitation of facial muscles and prevention of eye complications due to lagophthalmos. Surgical methods allow reconstruction of the facial nerve during its intracranial course, as well as after exiting the temporal bone. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the results of facial nerve reconstruction techniques performed for a unilateral facial nerve lesion after 1 year and with an interval of at least 2 years after anastomosis. The etiology of paresis, interval between the onset of lesion and reconstructive surgery, length of follow-up and reconstruction technique were evaluated. Facial nerve function was assessed using the House-Brackmann classification. Results: The cohort contained a total of 73 patients; facial nerve function was assessed in 53 of them. Iatrogenic lesions due to vestibular schwannoma removal predominated. The primary reconstruction of the facial nerve prevailed over postponed operations. Direct anastomosis with an interposition of the autologous graft from the great auricular nerve followed by a sural nerve graft achieved the best functional results after 1 year. The best results with an interval of at least 2 years were achieved in direct end-to-end anastomoses without graft, in which the reconstruction did not fail in either case. In the case of an interposition of the autologous graft from the great auricular nerve, it has been shown that facial nerve function worsens with the length of the graft. This correlation was not observed in grafts from the sural nerve. No statistically significant difference was found between the resulting function of the facial nerve and the reconstruction technique, sex, age and interval between the onset of lasion and reconstruction. Conclusion: Reconstructive surgeries resulted in improved facial nerve function in 98 % of patients. 70% of patients with an interval of at least 2 years after the surgery achieved HB grade III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Česká a Slovenská Neurologie a Neurochirurgie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Otorhinolaryngology & Phoniatrics / Otorinolaryngologie a Foniatrie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

From 1997 to 2002, 55 patients with vestibular schwannomas (VS) were managed by radical removal in a one-stage procedure by a retromastoideal posterior fossa approach. Ninety percent of VS were of the 4th grade compressing the brainstem. The described group proves that a high standard of microsurgical technique and intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring of cranial nerve function is essential. Small VS can be removed without any injury to the facial nerve and with subsequent serviceable hearing. Large VS can be removed with fairly good facial nerve function or with a temporary functional lesion. Less than 10% of operated VS necessitated a facial nerve reconstruction in a cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Cross anastomosis between nerves was never used. No serviceable hearing was maintained after surgery of large VS. Majority of VS in our group (90%) were not suitable for stereoradiosurgery (SRS) because of the size. Five patients operated on for a rapid growth after previous SRS proves that radiotherapy should not be a method of the first choice in VS. Our study supports an opinion that growing VS should be treated in the earliest possible stage. Total removal can be achieved with minimal morbidity and mortality. Auditory brainstem implant (ABI) brings a new chance of maintaining hearing in five patients with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF 2) and bilateral VS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]