Labyrinthectomy versus vestibular neurectomy: long-term physiologic and clinical outcomes.

Abstract

To determine whether long-term vestibular compensation (VC) and clinical outcomes differ after transmastoid labyrinthectomy (TML) versus retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy (RVNS). Prospective, observational study. Tertiary care, university hospital. Twenty-one subjects were studied several years after they were relieved of spontaneous episodic vertigo caused by peripheral vestibular disease by TML or RVNS. All patients had undergone TML or RVNS more than 2.5 years before the study and returned for physiologic and functional studies of vestibular compensation. Completeness of physiologic VC, as assessed by electronystagmography and rotational chair testing; performance on computerized dynamic posturography; pure-tone and speech audiometry; self-assessment of balance and hearing function with validated survey instruments. There were no differences in the incidence of physiologic VC or functional recovery between the TML and RVNS subjects. Although a majority of subjects in each group had evidence of incomplete vestibular compensation, there was no difference in self-assessment of balance or hearing handicap at long-term follow-up. Long-term clinical balance and hearing outcomes are equivalent when TML and RVNS successfully cure spontaneous, episodic vertigo. There is a high incidence of incomplete VC after both procedures, though this does not usually produce a significant balance handicap.