Objective: This study aimed to identify preoperative signs or symptoms that correlate with poor postoperative vestibular compensation after acoustic neuroma removal.
Study design: The study design was a retrospective chart review.
Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary care center.
Patients: A total of 210 patients who had acoustic neuromas removed via the retrosigmoid approach from January 1, 1990, to July 1, 1995, participated.
Main outcome measures: Persistent dysequilibrium for > 3 months after surgery was measured.
Results: Age (p = 0.002), gender (p = 0.007), presence of preoperative dysequilibrium (p = 0.005), duration of preoperative dysequilibrium > 3.5 months (p = 0.003), and central findings on electronystagmography ( p < 0.001) were related to poor outcome.
Conclusions: The authors found 31% of patients to have dysequilibrium lasting > 3 months after surgical removal of an acoustic neuroma. Age > 55.5 years, female gender, constant preoperative dysequilibrium present for > 3.5 months, and central findings on electronystagmography were associated with a worse outcome.