Facial nerve preservation in acoustic neuroma microsurgery

Objective To study the skills of facial nerve preservation in acoustic neuroma microsurgery. Methods Seventy four cases of acoustic neuromas treated microsurgically by suboccipital retrosigmoid transmeatus approach were analyzed retrospectively, including their clinical symptoms and characteristic image, the pathological anatomic relationships of facial nerve and tumor, microsurgical technique. Results Total resection of the tumor was achieved microsurgically in 72 cases, subtotal resection in 2 cases. Facial nerve was kept anatomic intact in 67(90.5%) of the patients. Intracranial end to end anastomosis of the facial nerve was performed in 4 cases. No patient died in this series. Conclusions Microneurosurgical technique is a safe and effective method for total resection of acoustic neuroma. It is key point for keeping facial nerve anatomic intact to understand the pathological anatomic relationships of facial nerve and tumor.