Surgical labyrinthectomy in the treatment of unilateral Meniere disease: a Belgian retrospective study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Retrospective single-center case series without a control group
PubMed 37938372 · doi:10.1007/s00405-023-08293-2
What was done
A retrospective study evaluated 25 patients with disabling, drug-resistant unilateral Meniere's disease and non-functional hearing who underwent surgical labyrinthectomy performed by a single surgeon at University Hospital UCL Namur between 2009 and 2019. Subjective and objective measures before and after surgery, including Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores, were analyzed from medical records.
What was found
Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores showed a statistically significant improvement post-surgery (p < 0.01), and 81% of patients were satisfied with the outcome. No post-operative complications occurred. Fourteen patients had favorable subjective and clinical outcomes without requiring further vestibular workup. All 25 patients had total deafness on the operated side as expected, and 4 required multidisciplinary rehabilitation for persistent tinnitus. Absolute baseline and post-operative numerical score values were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study provides single-center evidence that surgical labyrinthectomy remains a safe and effective definitive option for vertigo control in patients with intractable unilateral Meniere's disease whose hearing is already non-functional.
Limits
The study is limited by its retrospective single-surgeon design, small sample size (n = 25), and lack of a control or comparator group. The abstract omits precise baseline and follow-up numerical score metrics, confidence intervals, and follow-up duration.
Cited by
- supports Surgical removal of internal ear structures does not eliminate tinnitus originating in the auditory cortex.