These results show that this option is valid for patients with a fixed footplate and unsuccessful previous surgeries or patients who cannot benefit from a stapedotomy for anatomic reasons. In some cases, access to the round window membrane could represent a limitation. However, these promising initial results establish the need for further works with regard to 3 issues: 1) clinical data studies are needed, including a greater number of patients to confirm these preliminary results; 2) a long-term follow-up must be performed to detect any possible cochlear adverse effects, in particular, on the basilar membrane; 3) the effect of fascia interposition and tip size has to be evaluated in experimental studies.

Background The management of small‐ to medium‐size (< 20 mm) sporadic vestibular schwannomas (VSs) continues to inspire debate. Preoperative pure tone thresholds and tumor size are recognized prognostic features of hearing preservation after surgery. Objective To investigate what preoperative characteristics were associated with nonserviceable hearing after surgery for VSs. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the audiological results of 92 patients treated with the middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach for resection of VSs (< 20 mm). Sex, age, symptoms, tumor site, tumor size, growth rate, and hearing class according to American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery guidelines were evaluated. Negative outcome was progression after surgery to nonserviceable hearing according to Gardner‐Robertson classification. We included only patients with preoperative serviceable hearing. Results After surgery, 48 patients (52.2%) had nonserviceable hearing. At univariate analysis, sex age, symptoms, tumor site, and size were not associated to hearing outcome. Tumor growth rate ≥ 2.16 mm/year (P = 0.02, odds ratio 8.5) and preoperative hearing class B (P = 0.03, OR 5.89) were statistically associated to nonserviceable hearing after VSs resection. Tumor growth rate ≥ 2.16 mm/year was also significantly associated to preoperative hearing class B (P = 0.01). At multivariate analysis, the only independent prognostic factor of progression to nonserviceable hearing in operated VSs was tumor growth rate ≥ 2.16 mm/year (P = 0.01, OR = 4.15). Conclusion We found a new prognostic indicator of hearing preservation after VS surgery with the MCF approach: the tumor growth rate. This feature should be further investigated before being considered in the decision‐making process of VS treatment. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 129:2378–2383, 2019

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