Significance of neurophysiological monitoring in facial and audiory nerve reservation of acoustic neuroma microsurgery

AIM: To explore and analyze the skills of facial and auditory nerve reservation in acoustic neuroma surgery. METHODS: Accompanied with nerve monitoring, 120 patients harboring acoustic neuroma were treated surgically by suboccipital retrosigmoid transmeatus approach for reserving facial and auditory nerve. Postoperative facial and auditory nerve function were evaluated. Postoperative following up was from 0.5 to 5 years. RESULTS: Total tumors resection was achieved in 108 of the 120 patients (90%), near total resection in 5 (4.2%) and subtotal resection in 7 (5.8%). The facial nerve was kept anatomic intact in 106 (88.3%) of the patients and auditory never in 82 (68.3%). CONCLUSION: Use of the microsurgical and neurophysiological monitoring for removing the acoustic neuroma results in good anatomical and functional preservation of the facial and auditory nerve and the clinical effects are satisfactory.