Mediterr J Otol 2006:2(1): 1-8

The value of endoscopy in the surgical management of vertigo

Jacques Magnan, Hani El Garem, Arnaud Deveze, Jean-Pierre Lavieille 

ORL Unit,  Hôpital Nord, 13915, Marseille, France   jmagnan@ap-hm.fr

Objective: The authors present their experience in using an endoscope-assisted procedure to manage functional surgery of the auditory nerve in selected patients suffering from disabling vertigo.

Materials and methods: The value of endoscopy was retrospectively evaluated in 2 groups of patients. Over a period of 10 years, 25 patients suffered from disabling positional vertigo with vascular compression of the eighth cranial nerve; during a shorter period of 3 years, 45 patients with Meniere‘s disease required vestibular neurotomy. Both series were performed via a minimally invasive retrosigmoid approach.

Results: Endoscope-assisted surgery is very useful for a sure and safe vascular decompression of the auditory nerve, with no induced side effects. Of 25 patients who had endoscopic-assisted surgery for disabling positional vertigo syndrome, 14 were actually cured. In contrast, the usefulness of the endoscopic procedure has not yet been demonstrated in vestibular neurotomy.