title: Facial nerve function after translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term facial function of patients after translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma [VS] surgery and identify factors that influence these outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed that included 580 consecutive patients who underwent translabyrinthine craniotomy for removal of VS at a tertiary referral neurotologic practice between February 2000 and July 2004. A total of 512 patients who underwent primary microsurgical treatment of sporadic unilateral VS met inclusion criteria. Patient and tumor characteristics as well as perioperative complications are described. Perioperative and long-term facial function were evaluated in 392 patients who had at least 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complication rates after translabyrinthine craniotomy for VS are low. Patients with smaller tumors have significantly better postoperative facial function than those with larger tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excellent long-term facial function can be expected in the majority of patients who undergo microsurgical removal of VS via the translabyrinthine approach. Alternative treatment strategies may need to be developed for the treatment of VS > 3.5 cm in order to maximize postoperative facial function.
authors.affiliation: House Clinic, Los Angeles, CA 90057, USA. dbrackmann@hei.org
authors.forename: Derald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Brackmann
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Laurel M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003399:Craniotomy; D018450:Disease Progression; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000601:surgery*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires