J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2015; 76 - A114
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1546580

Effect of Vestibular Nerve Lesioning by Gentamicin on Outcomes of Surgically Treated Vestibular Schwannomas

Abdulrahman AL-Shudifat 1, Fredrik Tjernstrom 2, Peter Siesjo 2
  • 1The University of Jordan-Faculty of Medicine, Amman
  • 2Lund University, Sweden

Objective: This study aims to investigate the outcome of patients who have undergone vestibular nerve lesioning by Gentamicin injection before surgery to decrease postoperative morbidity especially balance problem. Also, we aimed to see the effect of lesioning on other outcome measures.

Patients and Methods: We applied lesioning (preoperatively) for 17 patients who operated for vestibular schwannoma between 2000 and 2010 at Lund University Hospital. Then, we compared their outcomes with control group, matched by age, sex, and tumor size. Balance problem as reported by patients, Eq. 5D,KS,neurological score, and work status data were obtained and analyzed for both the groups.

Results: Gentamicin injection showed significant difference between both the groups in balance and Eq. 5D components, with better result for gentamicin group. Whereas other outcome measures did not show significant difference between both groups.

Conclusion: Vestibular nerve lesioning by gentamicin could be helpful in preventing postoperative balance problem and improving quality of life.