Postoperative House-Brackmann Research Articles

Management and Outcomes of Facial Nerve Hemangiomas: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract Objectives To conduct a systematic review of facial nerve hemangiomas (FNH), focusing on patient characteristics, management options, and treatment outcomes. Design A systematic review was performed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, utilizing PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from inception to December 31, 2022. Setting Literature sourced from various databases providing information on FNH cases. Participants A total of 176 patients with FNH were included in the study, identified from 40 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Main Outcome Measures Patient demographics, lesion characteristics, preoperative symptoms, surgical approaches, and postoperative outcomes, including House-Brackmann (HB) grades. Results Among the 1,682 initially identified articles, 40 were included in the final review. From these, a total of 176 patients (mean age = 42.7 ± 12.8, 51.1% male) were included for analysis. Bivariate analysis showed that patients with longer preoperative symptom duration and facial nerve sacrifice had significantly greater postoperative HB Grades (p < 0.001). Additionally, a strong positive correlation was observed between pre- and postoperative HB Grades (Spearman's rho = 0.649). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that both facial nerve sacrifice (β = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38–1.34; p < 0.001) and greater preoperative HB Grades (β = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.20–0.53; p < 0.001) were associated with significantly greater postoperative HB Grades, but preoperative symptom duration did not persist as a significant predictor of postoperative HB Grades. Conclusions FNHs are rare lesions of the skull base affecting the temporal bone. Our findings highlight the role of preoperative facial nerve function and intraoperative preservation of the facial nerve in predicting postoperative outcomes. Timely resection of lesions that prioritizes facial nerve preservation is critical to achieving optimal patient outcomes.

Clinical analysis of transcranial facial nerve bridging with interpositional graft for the treatment of facial nerve injury

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the effectiveness of transcranial facial nerve bridging in the treatment of facial nerve dysfunction. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 27 patients with facial nerve dysfunction who underwent transcranial facial nerve bridging at the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital affiliated with Fudan University from 2017 to 2022. The main collected data includes the patient's age, gender, primary lesion, damaged location, interval from facial paralysis to surgery, and preoperative and postoperative House-Brackmann（HB） scale for facial nerve function. Statistical comparisons were made between the average HB level of patients before and after surgery. Results:A total of 27 patients included 17 males and 10 females. The average age of patients during surgery is（42.50±3.38） years old. Primary lateral skull base diseases include trauma（n=3）, tumors（n=22）, and infections（n=2）. The duration of facial paralysis varies from 6 months to 5 years. Statistics analysis has found that the average postoperative HB score of patients who underwent transcranial facial nerve bridging was significantly lower at（3.750 ± 0.183） compared to preoperative（4.875±0.168）. The proportion of patients with good facial nerve function increased significantly from 7.4% before surgery to 42.9% after surgery. Conclusion:Transcranial facial nerve bridging surgery with interpositional graft has a significant effect on improving facial nerve function in patients with facial nerve injury. Further research is still needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this surgery, to determine the optimal patient selection criteria and postoperative rehabilitation strategies.

Refining the predictive value of preoperative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) by whole-tumor analysis for facial nerve outcomes in vestibular schwannomas.

Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in MRI has been shown to correlate with postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) scores in patients with vestibular schwannoma despite limited methodology. To rectify limitations of single region of interest (ROI) sampling, we hypothesize that whole-tumor ADC histogram analysis will refine the predictive value of this preoperative biomarker related to postoperative facial nerve function. Of 155 patients who underwent resection of vestibular schwannoma (2014-2020), 125 patients were included with requisite clinical and radiographic data. After volumetric analysis and whole-tumor ADC histogram, regression tree analysis identified ADC cutoff for significant differences in HB grade. Outcomes were extent of resection, facial nerve function, hospital length of stay (LOS), and complications. Regression tree analysis defined three quantitative ADC groups (× 10-6 mm2/s) as high (> 2248.77; HB 1.7), mid (1468.44-2248.77; HB 3.1), and low (< 1468.44; HB 2.3) range (p 0.04). The mid-range ADC group had significantly worse postoperative HB scores and longer hospital LOS. Large tumor volume was independently predictive of lower rates of gross total resection (p <0.0001), higher postoperative HB score (p 0.002), higher rate of complications (p 0.04), and longer LOS (p 0.003). Whole-tumor histogram yielded a robust regression tree analysis that defined three ADC groups with significantly different facial nerve outcomes. This likely reflects tumor heterogeneity better than solid-tumor ROI sampling. Whole-tumor ADC warrants further study as a useful radiographic biomarker in patients with vestibular schwannoma who are considering surgical resection.

Long-term outcomes of facial nerve decompression by transmastoid versus middle cranial fossa approach for traumatic facial paralysis

ObjectivesTo evaluate and compare the long-term results of patients who underwent facial nerve decompression surgery with either transmastoid-supralabyrinthine (TMSL) or combined transmastoid- middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach for traumatic facial nerve paralysis. Materials and methodsThis is a single-center retrospective case-control study. The medical records of traumatic facial paralysis patients with House Brackmann (HB) Grade 6 who underwent facial nerve decompression surgery at via either TMSL or MCF approach between January 2011 and December 2017 were reviewed. The patients who had otic capsule involvement and total sensorineural hearing loss, therefore underwent translabyrinthine facial nerve decompression, and the patients follow-up period has not yet reached four years were excluded from the study. Postoperative HB score and hearing status were compared. ResultsEleven patients were operated with MCF approach (group 1), while 9 patients with TMSL approach (group 2). Average age of patients was 20.04 + 15.2 (range:4–47) years. Three (15 %) patients were female, while 17 (85 %) was male. Geniculate ganglion (90 %) was the most affected segment of the facial nerve. Facial nerve edema was observed in all cases, while intraneural hematoma were encountered in 4 (20 %) cases. Statistically significant improvement in median HB scores were reached in both groups, and no significant difference was observed in post-operative HB scores between both techniques. No significant difference in median AC 0,5–4 khZ and BC 0,5–3 kHz thresholds was observed between both techniques. ConclusionEven middle fossa approach is the best surgical technique to explore geniculate ganglion and labyrinthine segment of facial nerve, the functional results of transmastoid supralabrynthine approach, which is not needed craniotomy with low complication rate are as successful as middle fossa approach in selected patients.

The Effect of Age on Facial Nerve Recovery After Vestibular Schwannoma Resection.

The objective of this study is to assess the influence of age on facial nerve recovery after microsurgical resection of sporadic vestibular schwannoma. A historical cohort study was performed. The study was performed at a tertiary referral center. The studied cohort included patients with a House-Brackmann (HB) Grade III or worse in the immediate postoperative period. The studied intervention was microsurgical resection. The main outcome measure was complete recovery of facial nerve function to HB Grade I at least 12 months postoperatively. There were six patients with intracanalicular tumors and 100 with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors eligible for study. Given the few patients with intracanalicular tumors, no further analysis was pursued in this subset. For patients with CPA tumors, a multivariable analysis of several patient and tumor characteristics demonstrated age at surgery (odds ratio for 10-year increase of 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.98; p = 0.04) and immediate postoperative HB grade (odds ratio for one-grade increase of 0.27; 95% CI, 0.15-0.50; p < 0.001) to be jointly significantly associated with complete recovery to HB Grade I, indicating that the likelihood of complete facial nerve recovery was higher for younger patients and for those with better immediate postoperative HB grades. For example, the predicted probability of complete facial nerve recovery for a 30-year-old with immediate postoperative HB Grade III was 0.76 (or 76% when expressed as a percentage), whereas the predicted probability for a 50-year-old with immediate postoperative HB Grade V was only 0.10. After considering immediate postoperative HB grade, younger age at surgery was independently significantly associated with complete facial nerve recovery, which can assist in intraoperative decision-making regarding extent of resection and postoperative counseling.

Is There a Plateau to the Learning Curve for Acoustic Neuroma Resection?-Experience and Outcomes from a Single Interdisciplinary Team Over Thirty Years.

Objective The evolution of acoustic neuroma (AN) care continues to shift focus on balancing optimized tumor resection and control with preservation of neurological function. Prior learning curve analyses of AN resection have demonstrated a plateau between 20 and 100 surgeries. In this study of 860 consecutive AN surgeries, we investigate the presence of an extended learning curve tail for AN resection. Methods A retrospective cohort study of AN resections by a single interdisciplinary team between 1988 and 2018 was performed. Proportional odds models and restricted cubic splines were used to determine the association between the timing of surgery and odds of improved postoperative outcomes. Results The likelihood of improved postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) scores increased in the first 400 procedures, with HB 1 at 36% in 1988 compared with 79% in 2004. While the probability of a better HB score increased over time, there was a temporary decrease in slope of the cubic spline between 2005 and 2009. The last 400 cases continued to see improvement in optimal HB outcomes: adjusted odds of HB 1 score were twofold higher in both 2005 to 2009 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38-3.22, p < 0.001) and 2010 to 2018 (aOR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.49-3.19, p < 0.001). Conclusion In contrast to prior studies, our study demonstrates the steepest growth for learning, as measured by rates of preservation of facial function outcomes (HB 1), occurs in the first 400 AN resections. Additionally, improvements in patient outcomes continued even 30 years into practice, underlining the importance of lifelong learning.

Safety and Facial Nerve Outcomes of Intracisternal Papaverine Irrigation for Vestibular Schwannoma Resection

Papaverine, a vasodilator approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has shown efficacy in treating vasospasm in cardiology, urology, and nephrology. The vasodilatory effect of papaverine is also hoped to protect the facial nerve from ischemic damage and nerve manipulation during vestibular schwannoma surgery. Our institution uses intracisternal papaverine irrigation during vestibular schwannoma resection to protect the facial nerve in patients with neuromonitoring changes. Our objective was to investigate the safety and facial nerve outcomes of intracisternal papaverine irrigation during vestibular schwannoma resection. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent resection of vestibular schwannoma at our institution between 2008 and 2021. Patients received papaverine if the intraoperative facial nerve stimulation threshold increased above 0.05 mA. Postoperative outcomes were compared with control patients who did not receive papaverine. A total of 283 cases were included in our analysis. Patients who received papaverine (n= 60) had lower immediate postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) grades than did control individuals (mean, 1.54 vs. 1.95; P= 0.029) and a lower likelihood of immediate postoperative HB grade >1 (odds ratio, 0.514; P= 0.039). At long-term follow-up, there was no significant difference in HB grade. Papaverine use was not associated with increased rates of perioperative complications (P= 0.24). The off-label use of intracisternal papaverine irrigation during vestibular schwannoma resection can certainly be used safely for select cases. It is associated with improved immediate postoperative facial nerve outcomes, similar long-term facial nerve outcomes, and no significant increase in complications.

Middle Fossa Decompression for Recurrent Facial Palsy: Prevalence and Surgical Outcomes.

To investigate the surgical outcomes in patients treated for recurrent facial nerve palsy (RFP) at a quaternary facial nerve referral center. A retrospective chart review was performed on 132 patients with RFP who presented to our institution's facial nerve clinic from 2001 to 2021. Records were analyzed for etiology of palsy, facial nerve function, and recurrence rates. Pre- and post-operative audiometric outcomes were also assessed in surgically managed patients. 6.8% of RFP patients underwent surgical decompression. For patients who did not undergo surgery, the House-Brackmann (HB) score was 2.9 ± 1.3 (SD) at the initial clinic visit, and 2.4 ± 1.3 (SD) at the last clinic visit. This difference was significantly different (p=0.01, t-test). For surgical patients, the pre-operative HB score was 2.9 ± 0.9 (SD) and post-operative HB score was 1.8 ± 0.6 (SD), which were significantly different (p=0.01, t-test). The number of facial palsy episodes also decreased pre- and post-operatively from 3.5 ± 0.8 (SD) to 0.2 ± 0.4 (SD) episodes, which were significantly different (p < 0,001, t-test). Audiometric outcomes were not significantly different pre- and post-surgery (p=0.31, t-test for PTA; p=0.34, t-test for WRS). Facial nerve decompression for RFP patients with incomplete functional recovery may be an effective treatment for decreasing the frequency and severity of facial palsy episodes. 4 Laryngoscope, 133:1222-1227, 2023.

Pre- and intra-operative prognostic factors of facial nerve function in cerebellopontine angle surgery

PurposeThe study assesses whether pre- and intraoperative factors linked to electromyography and direct electrical stimulation (DES) of facial nerve can predict facial nerve function in the short- (12 days) and long-term (1 year) after cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor resection.Methods157 patients who underwent surgical resection of CPA tumors with facial nerve monitoring. Pre-operative factors (age, tumor size, pure tone average), surgical time and intra-operative parameters regarding facial function, minimum stimulation threshold (MST), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and the difference between proximal and distal CMAP (DPDC) were evaluated.ResultsA correlation between tumor size, MST, CMAP and facial function in both short and long term was found. A higher grade of immediate facial paralysis corresponded to a higher risk of poor outcome after one year. A postoperative House–Brackmann (HB) score of V or VI was correlated with poor outcome in 88.8% and 93.8% of cases. A risk of HB 3 or more, in the long term, was correlated with a tumor size of 20.2 mm. Using an MST of 0.1 mA, for long-term predictions, sensitivity and specificity were 0.62 (95% CI 0.46–0.75) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.61–0.82), respectively. With a CMAP cut-off < 200 µV, for long-term prediction, sensitivity was 0.73 (95% CI 0.53–0.87) and specificity 0.73 (95% CI 0.55–0.85).ConclusionThe assessment based on the cut-offs described increases the ability to predict facial function. Improving predictive accuracy enables surgeons to address patients’ expectations and to establish an intervention timeline for planning facial reanimation.

The Combined TL-RS Approach: Advantages and Disadvantages of Working 360 Degrees around the Sigmoid Sinus.

Objective To highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the combined translabyrinthine (TL) and classic retrosigmoid (RS) approaches. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting National tertiary referral center for skull base pathology. Participants Twenty-two patients with very large cerebellopontine angle tumors were resected using the combined TL-RS approach. Main Outcome Measures Preoperative patient characteristics including age, sex, and hearing loss. Tumor characteristics, pathology, and size. Intraoperative outcome: tumor removal. Postoperative outcomes included facial nerve function, residual tumor growth, and neurological deficits. Results Thirteen patients had schwannoma, eight had meningioma, and one had both. The mean age was 47 years, mean tumor size was 39 × 32 × 35 mm (anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, craniocaudal), and mean follow-up period was 80 months. Tumor control was achieved in 13 patients (59%), and 9 (41%) had residual tumor growth that required additional treatment. Seventeen patients (77%) had postoperative House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grades I to II, one had H-B grade III, one H-B grade V, and three H-B grade VI. Conclusion Combining TL and RS approaches may be helpful in safely removing large meningiomas and schwannomas in selected cases. This valuable technique should be considered when sufficient exposure cannot be achieved with the TL or RS approach alone.

Defining clinically significant tumor size in vestibular schwannoma to inform timing of microsurgery during wait-and-scan management: moving beyond minimum detectable growth.

Detection of vestibular schwannoma (VS) growth during observation leads to definitive treatment at most centers globally. Although ≥ 2 mm represents an established benchmark of tumor growth on serial MRI studies, 2 mm of linear tumor growth is unlikely to significantly alter microsurgical outcomes. The objective of the current work was to ascertain where the magnitude of change in clinical outcome is the greatest based on size. A single-institution retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients with sporadic VS who underwent microsurgical resection between January 2000 and May 2020 was performed. Preoperative tumor size cutpoints were defined in 1-mm increments and used to identify optimal size thresholds for three primary outcomes: 1) the ability to achieve gross-total resection (GTR); 2) maintenance of normal House-Brackmann (HB) grade I facial nerve function; and 3) preservation of serviceable hearing (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery class A/B). Optimal size thresholds were obtained by maximizing c-indices from logistic regression models. Of 603 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 502 (83%) had tumors with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) extension. CPA tumor size was significantly associated with achieving GTR, postoperative HB grade I facial nerve function, and maintenance of serviceable hearing (all p < 0.001). The optimal tumor size threshold to distinguish between GTR and less than GTR was 17 mm of CPA extension (c-index 0.73). In the immediate postoperative period, the size threshold between HB grade I and HB grade > I was 17 mm of CPA extension (c-index 0.65). At the most recent evaluation, the size threshold between HB grade I and HB grade > I was 23 mm (c-index 0.68) and between class A/B and C/D hearing was 18 mm (c-index 0.68). Tumors within 3 mm of the 17-mm CPA threshold displayed similarly strong c-indices. Among purely intracanalicular tumors, linear size was not found to portend worse outcomes for all measures. The probability of incurring less optimal microsurgical outcomes begins to significantly increase at 14-20 mm of CPA extension. Although many factors ultimately influence decision-making, when considering timing of microsurgical resection, using a size threshold range as depicted in this study offers an evidence-based approach that moves beyond reflexively recommending treatment for all tumors after detecting ≥ 2 mm of tumor growth on serial MRI studies.

Surgical Outcomes Following Vestibular Schwannoma Resection in Patients over the Age of Sixty-five.

Objective Vestibular schwannoma (VS) are benign, often slow growing neoplasms. Some institutions opt for radiosurgery in symptomatic patients of advanced age versus surgical resection. The aim of the study is to analyze surgical outcomes of VS in patients over the age of 65 who were either not candidates for or refused radiosurgery. Methods This includes retrospective analysis of VS patients between 1988 and 2020. Demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical records, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Patient preference for surgery over radiosurgery was recorded in the event that patients were offered both. Facial nerve outcomes were quantified using House-Brackmann (HB) scores. Tumor growth was defined by increase in size of >2 mm. Results In total, 64 patients were included of average age 72.4 years (65-84 years). Average maximum tumor diameter was 29 mm (13-55 mm). Forty-five patients were offered surgery or GKRS, and chose surgery commonly due to radiation aversion (48.4%). Gross total resection was achieved in 39.1% ( n = 25), near total 32.8% ( n = 21), and subtotal 28.1% ( n = 18). Average hospitalization was 5 days [2-17] with 75% ( n = 48) discharged home. Postoperative HB scores were good (HB1-2) in 43.8%, moderate (HB3-4) in 32.8%, and poor (HB5-6) in 23.4%. HB scores improved to good in 51.6%, moderate in 31.3%, and remained poor in 17.1%, marking a rate of facial nerve improvement of 10.9%. Tumor control was achieved in 95.3% of cases at an average follow-up time of 37.8 months. Conclusion VS resection can be safely performed in patients over the age of 65. Advanced age should not preclude a symptomatic VS patient from being considered for surgical resection.

Delayed Facial Nerve Palsy Following Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma: Clinical and Surgical Characteristics.

Analyze delayed facial nerve palsy (DFNP) following resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS) to describe distinct characteristics and facial nerve (FN) functional course. Prospective cohort with retrospective review. Academic medical center. Consecutive patients undergoing VS resection 11/2017 to 08/2020. Exclusion criteria: preoperative House-Brackmann (HB) ≥ III, postoperative HB ≥ III without delayed palsy, <30 days follow-up. VS resection with intraoperative electromyographic monitoring. FN outcomes utilizing the HB scale; comparison between patients with DFNP (deterioration greater than one HB grade 24 hours to 30 days postoperatively) vs. those with HBI-II throughout. Two hundred eighty-eight patients met criteria: mean age 47.6 years, 36.1% male; 24.0% middle cranial fossa, 28.5% retrosigmoid, 47.6% translabyrinthine. DFNP occurred in 31 (10.8%) patients with average time to onset of 8.1 days. Of these, 22 (71.0%) recovered HBI-II and 3 (9.7%) recovered HBIII. Patients who experienced DFNP, on average, had larger maximum tumor diameter (23.4 vs. 18.7 mm, p = 0.014), lower rate of gross-total resection (54.8% vs. 75.5%, p = 0.014), and lower rate of ≥100 μV FN response to 0.05 mA stimulus intraoperatively (80.6% vs. 94.9%, p = 0.002). Compared to overall incidence of DFNP, translabyrinthine approach demonstrated higher incidence (15.3%, p = 0.017) while retrosigmoid lower (3.7%, p = 0.014). In multivariable logistic regression, patients with FN response ≥100 μV to 0.05 mA stimulus were 72.0% less likely to develop DFNP (p = 0.021). Intraoperative electromyographic facial nerve response, tumor size, surgical approach, and extent of resection may play a role in development of DFNP following resection of VS. Most patients who develop DFNP recover near-normal function.

Resection of vestibular schwannomas after stereotactic radiosurgery: a systematic review.

Multiple short series have evaluated the efficacy of salvage microsurgery (MS) after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for treatment of vestibular schwannomas (VSs); however, there is a lack of a large volume of patient data available for interpretation and clinical adaptation. The goal of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of tumor characteristics, management, and surgical outcomes of salvage of MS after SRS for VS. The Medline/PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were queried according to PRISMA guidelines. All English-language and translated publications were included. Studies lacking adequate study characteristics and outcomes were excluded. Cases involving neurofibromatosis type 2, previous MS, or malignant transformation were excluded when possible. Twenty studies containing 297 cases met inclusion criteria. Three additional cases from Rush University Medical Center were added for 300 total cases. Tumor growth with or without symptoms was the primary indication for salvage surgery (92.3% of cases), followed by worsening of symptoms without growth (4.6%) and cystic enlargement (3.1%). The average time to MS after SRS was 39.4 months. The average size and volume of tumor at surgery were 2.44 cm and 5.92 cm3, respectively. The surgical approach was retrosigmoid (42.8%) and translabyrinthine (57.2%); 59.5% of patients had a House-Brackmann (HB) grade of I or II. The facial nerve was preserved in 91.5% of cases. Facial nerve preservation and HB grades were lower for the translabyrinthine versus retrosigmoid approach (p = 0.31 and p = 0.18, respectively); however, fewer complications were noted in the translabyrinthine approach (p = 0.29). Gross-total resection (GTR) was completed in 55.7% of surgeries. Studies that predominantly used subtotal resection (STR) were associated with a lower rate of facial nerve injury (5.3% vs 11.3%, p = 0.07) and higher rate of HB grade I or II (72.9% vs 48.0%, p = 0.00003) versus those using predominantly GTR. However, majority STR was associated with a recurrence rate of 3.6% as compared to 1.4% for majority GTR (p = 0.29). This study showed that the leading cause of MS after SRS was tumor growth at an average of 39.4 months after radiation. There were no significant differences in outcomes of facial nerve preservation, postoperative HB grade, or complication rate based on surgical approach. Patients who underwent STR showed statistically significant better HB outcomes compared with GTR. MS after SRS was considered by most authors to be more difficult than primary MS. These data support the notion that the surgical goals of salvage surgery are debulking of tumor mass, decreasing compression of the brainstem, and not necessarily pursuing GTR.

Delayed Facial Palsy After Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma: An Analysis of Long-term Facial Nerve Outcomes.

1) Identify clinical factors associated with delayed facial palsy (DFP) after microsurgical resection of vestibular schwannoma. 2) Determine whether DFP predicts worse facial nerve (FN) outcomes. Adult patients (≥18 yrs) who underwent vestibular schwannoma resection between February 2008 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) FN function was assessed on the day of surgery, daily during patients' inpatient admissions, and at postoperative clinic visits. Follow-up exceeded ≥12 months for all patients. DFP was defined as a decline (≥1 HB grade) in FN function (relative to the preoperative state) occurring between postoperative days 1 and 30. Two hundred ninety-one patients were analyzed. Mean age was 51.5 years (±12.3) and mean tumor size 20.6 mm (±10.8). Immediate FP occurred in 61 (21%) patients, and DFP occurred in 112 (38%) patients. Tumor size was largest in patients with immediate FP (p < 0.0001). On univariate analysis, DFP was associated with better final FN outcomes (OR 0.447, p = 0.0101) compared with immediate FP. Multivariate analysis, however, showed that timing of FP was no longer significant, whereas larger tumor size and preoperative HB2 function predicted worse FN outcomes (OR 2.718, p < 0.0001 and OR 9.196, p = 0.0039, respectively). In patients with DFP, longer time to onset of palsy predicted more favorable FN outcomes. When accounting for tumor size, the timing of onset of postoperative facial palsy does not predict final FN outcomes. In patients who develop DFP, the longer the interval between surgery and onset of weakness, the better the chances of good long-term FN function.

Clinical Predictors of Facial Nerve Outcomes After Surgical Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma.

To identify clinical predictors of facial nerve (FN) outcomes after microsurgical resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS). Prospective cohort study. Academic medical center. Consecutive patients undergoing VS resection from November 2017 to October 2019 were included. FN function was evaluated with the House-Brackmann (HB) scale and stratified into good (HB I-II) and poor (HB III-VI) function. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation, and logistic regression. Of 256 patients who met criteria (mean age, 47.7 years; 62.5% female), 227 (88.7%) achieved good FN function postoperatively and 238 (93.0%) at latest follow-up (mean, 154.8 days). Operative approaches consisted of translabyrinthine (50.8%), retrosigmoid (25.0%), and middle fossa craniotomies (24.2%). Extent of resection was decided intraoperatively, and gross or near total resection was accomplished in 237 (92.6%) cases. Postoperative HB grade correlated with latest HB grade (0.615, P < .001). Factors associated with good postoperative FN function included small tumor size (≤15 mm; odds ratio [OR], 2.425; P = .042), gross or near total resection (OR, 3.170; P = .041), and ≥100-µV intraoperative FN electromyographic response to a 0.05-mA stimulus (OR, 22.242; P < .001). Factors associated with good FN function at latest follow-up included gross total resection (OR, 7.764; P = .003) and ≥100-µV FN electromyographic response (OR, 8.518; P < .001), accounting for surgical approach and tumor size. Microsurgical resection of VS can be accomplished with excellent FN outcomes. Gross total resection and ≥100-µV intraoperative FN electromyographic response predicted excellent FN outcomes. Immediate postoperative FN function is a prognosticator of long-term FN function.

Facial Nerve Outcomes After Vestibular Schwannoma Microsurgical Resection in Neurofibromatosis Type 2.

The aim of this study is to investigate facial nerve outcomes after microsurgical resection in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) compared to sporadic tumors. Single institutional retrospective chart review. Tertiary referral center. All adult patients with NF2 vestibular schwannoma (VS) or sporadic VS who underwent microsurgical resection from 2008 to 2019 with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 1 year of postsurgical follow-up were included. The primary outcome measure was postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) facial nerve score measured at first postoperative visit and after at least 10 months. In total, 161 sporadic VSs and 14 NF2 VSs met inclusion criteria. Both median tumor diameter (NF2, 33.5 mm vs sporadic, 24 mm, P = .0011) and median tumor volume (NF2, 12.4 cm3 vs sporadic, 2.9 cm3, P = .0005) were significantly greater in patients with NF2. The median follow-up was 24.9 months (range, 12-130.1). Median facial nerve function after 1 year for patients with NF2 was HB 3 (range, 1-6) compared to HB 1 (range, 1-6) for sporadic VS (P = .001). With multivariate logistic regression, NF2 tumors (odds ratio [OR] = 13.9, P = .001) and tumor volume ≥3 cm3 (OR = 3.6, P = .025) were significantly associated with HB ≥3 when controlling for age, sex, extent of tumor resection, translabyrinthine approach, and prior radiation. Tumor volume >3 cm3 and NF2 tumors are associated with poorer facial nerve outcomes 1 year following microsurgical resection.

TcMEP threshold change is superior to A-train detection when predicting facial nerve outcome in CPA tumour surgery

ObjectSurgery of tumours in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) can lead to loss of facial nerve function. Different methods of intra-operative nerve monitoring (IOM) (including free-running EMG, direct nerve stimulation and transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEP)) have been used to predict facial nerve outcome during surgery. Recent research has shown TcMEP threshold increase and the occurrence of A-trains on the EMG to have great potential in doing so. This study compares these two methods and correlates them to House-Brackmann (HB) scores post-op in patients with tumours in the cerebellopontine angle.MethodForty-three patients (one was operated twice) with large CPA tumours treated surgically in the Radboud University Medical Center between 2015 and 2019 were included in this study. During surgery, TcMEP threshold increases and A-train activity were measured. Because our treatment paradigm aims at facial nerve preservation (accepting residual tumour), TcMEP threshold increase of over 20 mA or occurrence of A-trains were considered as warning signs and used as a guide for terminating surgery. HB scores were measured post-op, at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Spearman’s correlation was calculated between the IOM-values and the HB scores for a homogeneous subgroup of 30 patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) without neurofibromatosis type II (NF-II) and all patients collectively.ResultsTcMEP threshold was successfully measured in 39 (90.7%) procedures. In the homogeneous VS non-NFII group, we found a statistically significant moderate-to-strong correlation between TcMEP threshold increase and House Brackmann score immediately post-op, at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after surgery (Spearman’s rho of 0.79 (p < 0.001), 0.74 (p < 0.001), 0.64 (p < 0.001) and 0.58 (p = 0.002), respectively). For A-trains, no correlation was found. Similar results were found when including all patients with CPA tumours. A threshold increase of < 20 mA was a predictor of good facial nerve outcome.ConclusionThese results show that TcMEP threshold increases are strongly correlated to post-operative HB scores, while A-trains are not. This suggests TcMEP threshold increases can be a valuable predictor for facial nerve outcome in patients with large tumours when facial nerve preservation is prioritized over total resection. In this study, we found no use for A-trains to prevent facial nerve deficits.

Facial Nerve Decompression After Temporal Bone Fracture-The Bangalore Protocol.

Background: Our tertiary otology center treats facial weakness and paralysis after motor vehicle crashes. We evaluate these patients with physical exam, audiogram, Schirmer's test, and CT scan. Our protocol for management of the facial weakness provides good results for our patients.Methods: Our protocol begins with oral steroids, and serial evaluations. Indications for decompression and our unique transcanal approach to identify the sites for decompression are described. A retrospective review of the medical record presents our patients treated between 1998 and 2017.Results: One hundred and forty one patients with grade 4 or more weakness underwent decompression. Mean pre-operative and post-operative House-Brackmann (HB) scores were HB5 and HB2, respectively. Fourteen of 104 patients (13%) presenting with HB5 and 6 still had HB5 or HB6 after decompression. Eighty-three of thee 104 patients (80%) achieved HB1 or HB2 at 6 months. Post-operative bone levels were unchanged. Post-operative air levels were improved in cases of perigeniculate fractures (84%).Conclusion: This Bangalore protocol facilitates advantageous improvement in facial function and conductive hearing loss after traumatic facial nerve crush injuries. The surgical technique, albeit challenging, helps identify the fracture lines, facilitates reconstruction of disrupted ossicles, and avoids craniotomy.

Surgical Outcomes in Idiopathic Recurrent Facial Nerve Paralysis: A Rare Clinical Entity.

To evaluate the postoperative facial nerve dysfunction, audiometric outcomes, and long-term quality-of-life outcomes of patients with idiopathic recurrent facial nerve paralysis (RFP) after middle cranial fossa (MCF) microsurgical decompression. Retrospective chart analysis of 11 (mean age 37.0 years, range 5 to 67) patients at an academic tertiary referral center who underwent MCF facial nerve decompression. Data analysis included evaluation of pre- and postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) score, pre- and postoperative pure-tone average (PTA), pre-and postoperative word recognition scores (WRS), and postoperative Facial Clinimetric Evaluation survey. Mean number of preoperative facial paralysis episodes was 3.5 (range 2 to 6), and preoperative HB score was 4.5 (range 1 to 6). Postoperatively, 0 patients had further episodes of facial nerve paralysis at an average of 6.5 years (range 0.1 to 17.6) (P = 0.005), and the average postoperative HB score was 2.1 (range 1 to 3) (P = 0.011). Postoperative audiometry was stably maintained as assessed with PTA and WRS scores. Microsurgical facial nerve decompression for idiopathic RFP may be a reliable therapeutic modality to prophylactically decrease the number of facial nerve paralysis episodes and may also help to improve facial nerve functional status. 4 Laryngoscope, 130:200-205, 2020.