Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T22:17:24.845Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Enhancing hearing preservation in endoscopic-assisted excision of acoustic neuroma via the retrosigmoid approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

W. K. Low
W. K. Low*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore169608.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Wong-Kein Low, Head and Consultant, Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608, Republic of Singapore. Fax: 65-2262079
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Surgeons using the operating microscope are able to make use of numerous landmarks described for the lateral limits of dissection to preserve hearing in acoustic neuroma surgery via the retrosigmoid approach. Similar landmarks for hearing preservation described specifically for the endoscopic-assisted technique, are lacking. By analysing computed tomography (CT) scans of temporal bones, it was observed that to reach within 3 mm of the lateral end of the internal auditory meatus (IAM) via a 3 cm retrosigmoid craniotomy, drilling should be up to about 3 mm medial to the opening of the vestibular aqueduct. It was hypothesized that in surgery, by keeping 3 mm medial to the opening of the vestibular aqueduct, the integrity of inner ear structures would be preserved. This hypothesis was tested in 30 temporal bones and was found to be true. In addition, the lateral end of the IAM up to the transverse crest could be viewed by the 30-degree rigid angled endoscope. This landmark could, therefore, be utilized in the endoscopicassisted technique to predict the optimal amount of bone to be removed at a stage before the internal auditory meatal dura is opened when the intact dura affords added protection to the meatal contents during drilling. Well designed dural flaps on the posterior petrous bone could be created by making a longitudinal incision not more than 7 mm from the superior border of petrous bone and a transverse incision at least 17 mm from sigmoid. These flaps minimize injury to the endolymphatic sac and protect the cochlear nerve and vasculature that when damaged, may result in hearing loss.

Keywords

Neuroma acousticSurgery, operativeSurgery, endoscopic
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 113 , Issue 11 , November 1999 , pp. 973 - 977
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Blevins, N. H., Jackler, R. K. (1994) Exposure of the lateral extremity of the internal auditory canal through the retrosigmoid approach: A radioanatomic study. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 111: 81–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Domb, G. H., Chole, R. A. (1980) Anatomical studies of the posterior petrous apex with regard to hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma removal. Laryngoscope 90: 1769–1776.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jennings, C. R., O'Donoghue, G. M. (1998) Posterior fossa endoscopy. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 112: 227–229.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kartush, J. M, Telian, S. A., Graham, M. D., Kemink, J. L. (1986) Anatomic basis for labyrinth preservation during posterior fossa acoustic tumour surgery. Laryngoscope 96: 1024–1028.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kobayashi, H., Arenberg, I. K., Ferraro, J. A., VanderArk, G. D. (1993) Delayed endolymphatic hydrops following acoustic tumour removal with intraoperative and postoperative auditory brainstem response improvements. Acta Otolaryngologica (Stockholm) (Suppl 504): 74–78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laine, T., Johnson, L. G., Palva, T. (1992) Surgical anatomy of the internal auditory canal. In Acoustic Neuroma. (Tos, M, Thomsen, J. eds.) Kagler, Amsterdam, pp 241–244.Google Scholar
O'Donoghue, G., Greengrass, S., Magnan, J. (1994) Endoscopy in otology and otoneurosurgery. Advances in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 18: 43–67.Google Scholar
Roland, P. S., Meyerhoff, W. L., Wright, C. G., Micket, B. (1988) Anatomical considerations in the posterior approach to the internal auditory canal. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 97: 621–625.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenberg, S. I., Silverstein, H., Willcox, T. O., Gordon, M. A. (1994) Endoscopy in otology and neurotology. American Journal of Otology 15: 168–172.Google ScholarPubMed
Sekiya, T., Moller, A. R., Jannetta, P. J. (1986) Pathophysiological mechanisms of intraoperative and postoperative hearing deficits in cerebello-pontine angle surgery: an experimental study. Acta Neurochirurgica 81: 142–151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Silverstein, H., Norrell, H., Smouha, E., Haberkamp, T. (1988) The singular canal: a valuable landmark in surgery of the internal auditory canal. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 98: 138–143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Voltonen, H. J., Poe, D. S., Heilman, C. B., Tarlov, E. C. (1997) Endoscopically assisted prevention of cerebrospinal fluid leak in suboccipital acoustic neuroma surgery. American Journal of Otology 18: 381–385.Google Scholar
Yanagihara, N., Murakami, S., Hatakeyama, T., Zenke, K. (1995) Significance of hearing restoration in the surgery of small acoustic tumours. 2nd International Conference on Acoustic Neuroma Surgery and 2nd European Skull Base Society Congress Abstract Book pp 82.Google Scholar