Clinical Predictors of Facial Nerve Outcomes After Surgical Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma. (13th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, Yin; MacDonald, Bridget V.; Tawfik, Kareem O.; Schwartz, Marc S.; Friedman, Rick A.
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 164:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1085
• Page End: 1093
• Publication Date: 2020-10-13
• Subjects: facial nerve -- facial paralysis -- vestibular schwannoma -- acoustic neuroma -- microsurgery -- predictive factors; Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599820961389
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To identify clinical predictors of facial nerve (FN) outcomes after microsurgical resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS). Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Academic medical center. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing VS resection from November 2017 to October 2019 were included. FN function was evaluated with the House‐Brackmann (HB) scale and stratified into good (HB I‐II) and poor (HB III‐VI) function. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation, and logistic regression. Results: Of 256 patients who met criteria (mean age, 47.7 years; 62.5% female), 227 (88.7%) achieved good FN function postoperatively and 238 (93.0%) at latest follow‐up (mean, 154.8 days). Operative approaches consisted of translabyrinthine (50.8%), retrosigmoid (25.0%), and middle fossa craniotomies (24.2%). Extent of resection was decided intraoperatively, and gross or near total resection was accomplished in 237 (92.6%) cases. Postoperative HB grade correlated with latest HB grade (0.615, P <. 001). Factors associated with good postoperative FN function included small tumor size (≤15 mm; odds ratio [OR], 2.425; P =. 042), gross or near total resection (OR, 3.170; P =. 041), and ≥100‐µV intraoperative FN electromyographic response to a 0.05‐mA stimulus (OR, 22.242; P <. 001). Factors associated with good FN function at latest follow‐up included gross total resection (OR, 7.764; P =. 003) and ≥100‐µV FN electromyographic response (OR, 8.518; P <. 001), accounting for surgical approach and tumor size. Conclusion: Microsurgical resection of VS can be accomplished with excellent FN outcomes. Gross total resection and ≥100‐µV intraoperative FN electromyographic response predicted excellent FN outcomes. Immediate postoperative FN function is a prognosticator of long‐term FN function.