title: Balance impairment after acoustic neuroma surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of balance problems after acoustic neuroma surgery, evaluating whether disequilibrium is disabling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 386 patients who underwent acoustic neuroma surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were selected from a population of 459 subjects who had undergone surgery for acoustic neuroma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Dizziness Handicap Inventory, The Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), and a specific questionnaire on oscillopsia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The specific questionnaire emphasized that 39 patients (10.10%) perceived disequilibrium as disabling, and the oscillopsia handicap score result was moderate in 73.32% of the sample, mild in 21.50%, and severe in 5.18% of patients. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory and ABC scales revealed the presence of handicap and disability due to disequilibrium and the influence of some variables such as sex and a higher oscillopsia handicap score. Dizziness Handicap Inventory and ABC scores were higher in symptomatic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disequilibrium influences handicap and disability after acoustic neuroma surgery. This symptom is also present after several years since surgery, and some patients perceived disequilibrium as disabling.
authors.affiliation: ENT Rehabilitation Unit, San Raffaele Pisana Scientific Institute Tosinvest Sanita, Italy. davide.tufarelli@sanraffaele.it
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tufarelli
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meli
authors.forename: Francesca Sylos
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Labini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Badaracco
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alesii
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falcioni
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004244:Dizziness / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D000160:Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*