American journal of otolaryngology
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Small tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) can frequently be removed with preservation of the auditory and the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve. This study was undertaken to estimate the effect of vestibular nerve preservation on both balance and hearing following surgery. ⋯ Preservation of the vestibular nerve did not result in a chronic balance disorder in this patient population. This study does not allow the authors to conclude if vestibular nerve preservation improves overall hearing after CPA surgery; however, these data suggest that preservation of the inferior vestibular nerve may result in less damage to the cochlear nerve in some patients. Accordingly, preservation of the vestibular nerve in CPA meningioma surgery can be recommended.
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The sequela of a temporal bone fracture include hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction, and facial nerve injury. A large series of patients with temporal bone fractures are reviewed to correlate mechanism of injury, fracture location, and outcome. ⋯ Hearing loss following temporal bone fracture reflects the site and mechanism of injury. Transient conductive hearing loss may be due to blood in the middle ear, perforation of the tympanic membrane, or injury to the ossicular chain. Conductive loss persisting 6 to 7 weeks after trauma and exceeding 30 dB is an indication for surgical exploration.