BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) has come into focus after treatment for cerebellopontine angle (CPA) lesions. OBJECTIVE: This study compared subjective (tinnitus, vertigo) and objective (hearing loss, facial palsy) results of CPA surgery with patient-perceived impairment of QOL. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of 48 patients operated on for either a vestibular schwannoma or a meningioma in the CPA was performed. Patient's subjective impairment of QOL by tinnitus, vertigo, hearing loss, and facial nerve palsy was assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS). Objective facial nerve and hearing function were determined using House-Brackmann and Gardner-Robertson classification systems, respectively. RESULTS: The return rate of questionnaires was 64.4%, with mean follow-up time of 417.2 (+/- 46.4) days. Mean preoperative tinnitus score was 2.5 (+/- 0.5) and increased to 4.6 (+/- 0.7) postoperatively (P < .01). The vertigo score increased from 2.0 (+/- 0.3) to 5.8 (+/- 0.6) (P < .001). Pre- and postoperative values for hearing loss were 3.4 (+/- 0.6) and 5.9 (+/- 0.7), respectively (P < .01), and for facial nerve palsy 0.7 (+/- 0.4) compared with 3.1 (+/- 0.6) postoperatively (P < .01). House-Brackmann grade 1 or 2 was determined in 87.1% of patients before and in 80.6% after surgery. Serviceable hearing (Gardner-Robertson classes I-III) was found in 75% before and in 64.3% after surgery. CONCLUSION: Preservation of facial nerve and hearing function are not the only important criteria defining QOL after CPA surgery. Tinnitus and vertigo may have a significant underestimated impact on the patient's postoperative course and QOL.
BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) has come into focus after treatment for cerebellopontine angle (CPA) lesions. OBJECTIVE: This study compared subjective (tinnitus, vertigo) and objective (hearing loss, facial palsy) results of CPA surgery with patient-perceived impairment of QOL. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of 48 patients operated on for either a vestibular schwannoma or a meningioma in the CPA was performed. Patient's subjective impairment of QOL by tinnitus, vertigo, hearing loss, and facial nerve palsy was assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS). Objective facial nerve and hearing function were determined using House-Brackmann and Gardner-Robertson classification systems, respectively. RESULTS: The return rate of questionnaires was 64.4%, with mean follow-up time of 417.2 (+/- 46.4) days. Mean preoperative tinnitus score was 2.5 (+/- 0.5) and increased to 4.6 (+/- 0.7) postoperatively (P < .01). The vertigo score increased from 2.0 (+/- 0.3) to 5.8 (+/- 0.6) (P < .001). Pre- and postoperative values for hearing loss were 3.4 (+/- 0.6) and 5.9 (+/- 0.7), respectively (P < .01), and for facial nerve palsy 0.7 (+/- 0.4) compared with 3.1 (+/- 0.6) postoperatively (P < .01). House-Brackmann grade 1 or 2 was determined in 87.1% of patients before and in 80.6% after surgery. Serviceable hearing (Gardner-Robertson classes I-III) was found in 75% before and in 64.3% after surgery. CONCLUSION: Preservation of facial nerve and hearing function are not the only important criteria defining QOL after CPA surgery. Tinnitus and vertigo may have a significant underestimated impact on the patient's postoperative course and QOL.
Authors: Martin Chovanec; Eduard Zvěřina; Oliver Profant; Zuzana Balogová; Jan Kluh; Josef Syka; Jiří Lisý; Ilja Merunka; Jiří Skřivan; Jan Betka Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2015-01-12 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Steffen Rosahl; Christopher Bohr; Michael Lell; Klaus Hamm; Heinrich Iro Journal: GMS Curr Top Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2017-12-18
Authors: Steffi Weidt; Annette B Bruehl; Dominik Straumann; Stefan C A Hegemann; Gerhard Krautstrunk; Michael Rufer Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2014-07-22 Impact factor: 2.655