RESUMEN
Our 24-year experience with acoustic neuroma surgery is reported. Three approaches were used in 34 patients: translabyrinthine (11 cases), transtemporal (2 cases), and retrosigmoid (21 cases). Prolonged facial paralysis occurred in 27% of patients with the translabyrinthine approach and in 15% with the retrosigmoid approach. Facial nerve monitoring was used in all operations with the retrosigmoid approach. In the translabyrinthine approach, 5 patients had CSF leak, 2 required secondary surgery, and 2 developed meningitis. With the retrosigmoid approach, 5 patients had CSF leak, 2 required secondary surgery, 3 developed meningitis (1 died), and 1 patient required emergency reoperation for posterior cranial fossa hematoma. Auditory function was preserved in one patient. The advantages of the retrosigmoid approach have become apparent: good exposure, speed, and preservation of the facial and cochlear nerves.