One-stage Removal of Residual Intracanalicular Acoustic Neuroma and Hemihypoglossal-intratemporal Facial Nerve Anastomosis: Technical Note

Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 1444-1448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Donzelli ◽  
Gaetano Motta ◽  
Luigi Maria Cavallo ◽  
Francesco Maiuri ◽  
Enrico de Divitiis

Abstract OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE Incomplete removal of residual intracanalicular tumor and injury to the facial nerve are the main problems associated with surgery of large acoustic neuromas via the retromastoid suboccipital approach. In patients with residual or recurrent intracanalicular neuromas, the translabyrinthine approach is the preferred surgical route, allowing complete tumor removal; it may eventually also be used for exposure of the intratemporal portion of the facial nerve for a hemihypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis when a postoperative facial palsy exists This one-stage procedure has not been described previously. CLINICAL PRESENTATION Three patients with postoperative facial palsy and residual intracanalicular tumor after surgical removal of a large acoustic neuroma via the retromastoid suboccipital approach underwent reoperation via the translabyrinthine approach and one-stage removal of the residual tumor and hemihypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis. All three patients had a complete facial palsy of House-Brackmann Grade VI and a residual tumor of 8 to 12 mm. TECHNIQUE A classic translabyrinthine approach was used to open the internal auditory canal and remove the residual intracanalicular tumor. The facial nerve was exposed in its mastoid and tympanic parts, mobilized, and transected; then, the long nerve stump was transposed into the neck and used for an end-to-side anastomosis into the hypoglossal nerve. The operation resulted in variable improvement of the facial muscle function up to Grade III (one patient) and Grade IV (two patients). CONCLUSION Reoperation via the translabyrinthine approach is indicated for removal of residual intracanalicular acoustic neuroma and realization of a hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis in a single procedure. It is suggested that this type of anastomosis may also be used during the initial operation for acoustic neuroma removal when the facial nerve is inadvertently sectioned.

1999 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. E1
Author(s):  
Todd H. Lanman ◽  
Derald E. Brackmann ◽  
William E. Hitselberger ◽  
Bill Subin

Object The choice of approach for surgical removal of large acoustic neuromas is still controversial. The authors reviewed the results in a series of patients who underwent removal of large tumors via the translabyrinthine approach. Methods The authors conducted a database analysis of 190 patients (89 men and 101 women) with acoustic neuromas 3 cm or greater in size. The mean age of these patients was 46.1 ± 15.6 years. One hundred seventy-eight patients underwent primary translabyrinthine surgical removal and 12 underwent surgery for residual tumor. Total tumor removal was accomplished in 183 cases (96.3%). The tumor was adherent to the facial nerve to some degree in 64% of the cases, but the facial nerve was preserved anatomically in 178 (93.7%) of the patients. Divided nerves were repaired by primary attachment or cable graft. Facial nerve function was assessed immediately after surgery, at the time of discharge, and at 3 to 4 weeks and 1 year after discharge. Excellent function (House-Brackmann facial nerve Grade I or II) was present in 55%, 33.9%, 38.8%, and 52.6% of the patients for each time interval, respectively, with acceptable function (Grades I–IV) in 81% at 1 year. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage that required surgical repair occurred in only 1.1% of the patients and meningitis occurred in 3.7%. There were no deaths. Conclusions Use of the translabyrinthine approach for removal of large tumors resulted in good anatomical and functional preservation of the facial nerve, with minimum incidence of morbidity and no incidence of mortality. The authors continue to recommend use of this approach for acoustic tumors larger than 3 cm and for smaller tumors when hearing preservation is not an issue.


1989 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Clayton ◽  
R. P. Rivron ◽  
D. R. Hanson ◽  
J. D. Fenwick

AbstractThis evaluation of recent experience of hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis in ten patients who had undergone acoustic neuroma resection, indicates that this procedure may have a role to play in the treatment of this disfiguring condition. Facial symmetry at rest is satisfactory in the majority of patients, who suffered little long term deficit from the loss of their hypoglossal nerve. This procedure is ideally suited to otolaryngological practice.


1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd H. Lanman ◽  
Derald E. Brackmann ◽  
William E. Hitselberger ◽  
Bill Subin

Object. The choice of approach for surgical removal of large acoustic neuromas is still controversial. The authors reviewed the results in a series of patients who underwent removal of large tumors via the translabyrinthine approach.Methods. The authors conducted a database analysis of 190 patients (89 men and 101 women) with acoustic neuromas 3 cm or greater in size. The mean age of these patients was 46.1 ± 15.6 years. One hundred seventy-eight patients underwent primary translabyrinthine surgical removal and 12 underwent surgery for residual tumor. Total tumor removal was accomplished in 183 cases (96.3%). The tumor was adherent to the facial nerve to some degree in 64% of the cases, but the facial nerve was preserved anatomically in 178 (93.7%) of the patients. Divided nerves were repaired by primary attachment or cable graft. Facial nerve function was assessed immediately after surgery, at the time of discharge, and at 3 to 4 weeks and 1 year after discharge. Excellent function (House—Brackmann facial nerve Grade I or II) was present in 55%, 33.9%, 38.8%, and 52.6% of the patients for each time interval, respectively, with acceptable function (Grades I—IV) in 81% at 1 year. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage that required surgical repair occurred in only 1.1% of the patients and meningitis in 3.7%. There were no deaths.Conclusions. Use of the translabyrinthine approach for removal of large tumors resulted in good anatomical and functional preservation of the facial nerve, with minimum incidence of morbidity and no incidence of mortality. The authors continue to recommend use of this approach for acoustic tumors larger than 3 cm and for smaller tumors when hearing preservation is not an issue.


1992 ◽  
Vol 101 (10) ◽  
pp. 821-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Tos ◽  
Jens Thomsen ◽  
Mahmoud Youssef ◽  
Suat Turgut

Forty-six consecutive video-recorded translabyrinthine operations at Gentofte Hospital, for tumors of 5 to 25 mm, were investigated for possible damage to the facial nerve from cauterization, suction, stretching, pushing, and other instrumental trauma at the following regions: fundus, internal meatus, porus, cerebellopontine angle, and brain stem. House-Brackmann grading of the postoperative facial nerve function was determined from the patient records for the 1st, 3rd, and 10th days and 3 months and 6 months postoperatively, as well as the final status. Suction on the nerve seems to be the most important factor for perioperative facial nerve damage. The most common site of damage was the porus region. This investigation shows thermic drilling lesions to be very relevant. There was no correlation between the degree and character of damage and the postoperative facial nerve function. In eight patients we cannot explain the postoperative facial palsy.


2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (Sup 1) ◽  
pp. S40
Author(s):  
Ricardo F. Bento ◽  
Rubens V. de Brito ◽  
Tanit Ganz Sanchez

1993 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 1119-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Buchwald ◽  
Mirko Tos ◽  
Jens Thomsen ◽  
Henrik MØller ◽  
Agnete Parving

This investigation was performed in order to evaluate the observer variations in facial nerve function after surgery for an acoustic neuroma. From 1976–90, 507 patients were operated on by the same surgical team (M.T. and J.T.) using a translabyrinthine approach. One hundred and forty-four patients living in Copenhagen City and County were invited for interview and objective examination. Only 128 patients attended the interview and examination which were carried out by the same ENT physician. Data concerning observation of the facial nerve function only is presented. Its function was clinically evaluated (using the House and Brackmann (1985) grading scale) by two different observers i.e the ENT physician and one of the surgeons. The patients were asked face-to-face with the ENT physician to estimate the degree of facial nerve function according to a 0–100 per cent scale. Comparing normal and abolished facial nerve function the judgments of the ENT physician and the surgeon agreed with the patient‘s own evaluation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (S 03) ◽  
pp. S267-S268
Author(s):  
James K. Liu ◽  
Vincent N. Dodson ◽  
Robert W. Jyung

The translabyrinthine approach is advantageous for the resection of large acoustic neuromas compressing the brainstem when hearing loss is nonserviceable. This approach provides wide access through the presigmoid corridor without prolonged cerebellar retraction. Early identification of the facial nerve at the fundus is also achieved. In this operative video atlas manuscript, the authors demonstrate a step-by-step technique for microsurgical resection of a large cystic acoustic neuroma via a translabyrinthine approach. The nuances of microsurgical and skull base technique are illustrated including performing extracapsular dissection of the tumor while maintaining a subperineural plane of dissection to preserve the facial nerve. This strategy maximizes the extent of removal while preserving facial nerve function. A microscopic remnant of tumor was left adherent to the perineurium. A near-total resection of the tumor was achieved and the facial nerve stimulated briskly at low thresholds. Other than preexisting hearing loss, the patient was neurologically intact with normal facial nerve function postoperatively. In summary, the translabyrinthine approach and the use of subperineural dissection are important strategies in the armamentarium for surgical management of large acoustic neuromas while preserving facial nerve function.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/zld2cSP8fb8.


2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 786-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic Venail ◽  
Pascal Sabatier ◽  
Michel Mondain ◽  
François Segniarbieux ◽  
Christophe Leipp ◽  
...  

Object The aim of this study was to address the efficiency and safety of direct end-to-side facial-hypoglossal nerve anastomosis for facial palsy rehabilitation. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective study of 12 consecutive procedures performed between December 2000 and February 2006. Facial palsies were caused by the surgical removal of tumors in the brainstem, cerebellopontine angle, or mastoid process. Direct end-to-side facial-hypoglossal anastomosis was performed in each case. Facial function (evaluated using the overall percentage of facial function and House-Brackmann scale grades), as well as tongue trophicity and mobility, were assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Postoperative early and late complications were systematically reviewed. Results The mean delay between tumoral and reparative surgery was 15.9 ± 4 months (median 11 months). Preoperatively, the mean percentage facial function score was 11.6 ± 1.7% (45% of patients with House-Brackmann Grade 5 facial palsy and 55% of patients with House-Brackmann Grade 6). Mean facial function scores increased to 19.3, 32.2, and 43.8% at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery, respectively. Twenty-four months after surgery, 50% of cases had House-Brackmann Grade 3 facial palsy and 50% had Grade 4. A significantly better recovery at 24 months was observed postoperatively for neural lesions occurring in the mastoid or the brainstem compared with those in the cerebellopontine angle. Tongue hemiparesis was observed in 5 patients (41.7%), 2 of whom had tongue hypotrophy (16.7%). No patient complained of swallowing or speech disturbance. Facial synkinesis was noted in 1 patient (8.3%). Conclusions Facial recovery after direct end-to-side facial-hypoglossal nerve anastomosis is similar to results observed with end-to-end or end-to-side facial-hypoglossal nerve anastomosis with an interpositional graft. Tongue hypotrophy and palsy were observed in a small number of cases. This procedure allows one to minimize, although not fully prevent, facial synkinesis. The site of the neural lesion appears to be an important factor in the prognosis of recovery.


2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (v1supplement) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Liu ◽  
Robert W. Jyung

Large acoustic neuromas, greater than 3 cm, can be technically challenging tumors to remove because of their intimate relationship with the brainstem and surrounding cranial nerves. Successful tumor resection involves functional preservation of the facial nerve and neurovascular structures. The translabyrinthine approach is useful for surgical resection of acoustic neuromas of various sizes in patients with poor preoperative hearing. The presigmoid surgical corridor allows direct exposure of the tumor in the cerebellopontine angle without any fixed cerebellar retraction. Early identification of the facial nerve at the fundus facilitates facial nerve preservation. Large acoustic tumors can be readily removed with a retractorless translabyrinthine approach using dynamic mobilization of the sigmoid sinus. In this operative video atlas report, the authors demonstrate their operative nuances for resection of a large acoustic neuroma via a translabyrinthine approach using a retractorless technique. Facial nerve preservation is achieved by maintaining a plane of dissection between the tumor capsule and the tumor arachnoid so that a layer of arachnoid protects the blood supply to the facial nerve. Multilayered closure is achieved with a fascial sling technique in which an autologous fascia lata graft is sutured to the dural defect to suspend the fat graft in the mastoidectomy defect. We describe the step-by-step technique and illustrate the operative nuances and surgical pearls to safely and efficiently perform the retractorless translabyrinthine approach, tumor resection, facial nerve preservation, and multi-layered reconstruction of the skull base dural defect to prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage.The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/ros98UxqVMw.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document