Tenotomy of the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles reduces subjective dizziness handicap in definite Meniere's disease.
CONCLUSIONS
Tenotomy is a promising surgical alternative with a high reduction in dizziness handicap in the short and long term.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immediate and the long-term effect of tenotomy of the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles on subjective dizziness as measured by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI).


METHODS
A retrospective follow-up study of 42 patients with definite, unilateral Meniere's disease (19 males, 23 females, average age = 58.1 ± 14.1 years) had undergone tenotomy under general anesthesia through an endaural approach. Pre- and postoperative DHI values were compared for all patients, with postoperative follow-up ranging from 6 months to 9 years. Additionally, results were divided into three postoperative subgroups (A = 0-3 years, B = 3-6 years, C = 6-9 years).


RESULTS
A statistically significant reduction of 48 DHI points, from a median preoperative DHI = 52 to DHI = 4 postoperatively, was noted (p < 0. 001). In all, 40/42 patients reported a reduction of dizziness handicap, while in 33/42 the difference was > 12 points. A statistically significant reduction of DHI scores was noted (A = 60, B = 34, C = 33) in all subgroups. It was also noted that the higher the preoperative DHI score, the greater the subjective success of the surgery.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rudolfstiftung Tertiary Hospital, Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. benjamin.loader@meduniwien.ac.at
Benjamin
B
Loader
David
D
Beicht
Jafar-Sasan
JS
Hamzavi
Peter
P
Franz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013198:Stapedius / Q000601:surgery*; D058971:Tenotomy / Q000379:methods*; D013719:Tensor Tympani / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome