Balance impairment after acoustic neuroma surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of balance problems after acoustic neuroma surgery, evaluating whether disequilibrium is disabling.
Study Design: Retrospective observational study.
Setting: Rehabilitation center.
Patients: A group of 386 patients who underwent acoustic neuroma surgery.
Interventions: Patients were selected from a population of 459 subjects who had undergone surgery for acoustic neuroma.
Mean Outcome Measures: The Dizziness Handicap Inventory, The Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), and a specific questionnaire on oscillopsia.
Results: The specific questionnaire emphasized that 39 patients (10.10%) perceived disequilibrium as disabling, and the oscillopsia handicap score result was moderate in 73.32% of the sample, mild in 21.50%, and severe in 5.18% of patients. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory and ABC scales revealed the presence of handicap and disability due to disequilibrium and the influence of some variables such as sex and a higher oscillopsia handicap score. Dizziness Handicap Inventory and ABC scores were higher in symptomatic patients.
Conclusion: Disequilibrium influences handicap and disability after acoustic neuroma surgery. This symptom is also present after several years since surgery, and some patients perceived disequilibrium as disabling.