title: Influence of age on postural compensation after unilateral deafferentation due to vestibular schwannoma surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the age-related effects of vestibular schwannoma (VS) on postural control and whether the postoperative postural strategies differ according to age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal, transversal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven VS patients were split into three groups according to age (group I, 14 patients aged from 30 to 44 years; group II, 21 patients aged from 45 to 59 years; and group III, 12 patients aged from 60 to 75 years). All patients underwent vestibular and posturographic testing shortly before as well as 8 days and 3 months after surgical tumor removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vestibular and postural performance followed a classical time course with degradation just after surgery and recovery 3 months after surgery, whatever the age group. However, in the elderly the improvement of postural performances compared to preoperatively was more important, especially in conflicting situations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite of age-related decline in postural control and cognitive processes, neuroplasticity allowed not only a recovery but even an improvement of balance after surgical VS removal in the elderly. This study highlights the interest of VS surgery even at a more advanced age.
authors.affiliation: University of Lorraine, UFR STAPS, Villers-lès-Nancy, France. gerome.gauchard@univ-lorraine.fr
authors.forename: Gérome C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Gauchard
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lion
authors.forename: Philippe P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parietti-Winkler
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D004856:Postural Balance; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests