An acoustic neuroma is a tumor of the nerve that runs between the ear and the brain. The tumor is not cancerous but it can cause permanent nerve damage, hearing loss, vertigo and other balance problems, ringing in the ear, pain and other symptoms. Surgery involves removing the tumor through the inner ear or an incision in the skull to prevent further damage. But surgery has risks and sometimes makes symptoms worse, according to MayoClinic.com.
Surgical Risks
Sometimes surgery causes fluid from the brain to leak through the wound, a serious complication that warrants immediate medical attention, according to the Acoustic Neuroma Association. There is also a risk of infection. It is common for patients to experience head pain and tiredness after surgery.
Hearing Loss
The surgery to remove an acoustic neuroma can cause further damage to the nerves in the area, particularly if the tumor is large or close to the nerve, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. This can lead to additional hearing loss. Also, surgery does not restore hearing so any hearing that has already been lost because of the tumor will not come back after surgery. About 50 percent of patients with small tumors retain good hearing after surgery, according to MedlinePlus. A variety of hearing aids can help acoustic neuroma patients cope with their hearing loss.
Facial Paralysis
Sometimes an acoustic neuroma also involves the nerves that control movement in the face and surgery can damage those nerves, causing partial paralysis. This can lead to weakness in the facial muscles. Most people with small tumors do not have permanent problems. But about 66 percent of patients with large tumors have some permanent facial paralysis after surgery, according to MedlinePlus.
Other Risks
Sometimes surgery can cause or worsen other symptoms like ringing in the ear, eye dryness, balance problems, and chronic headaches, according to the Acoustic Neuroma Association. Some patients require a period of inpatient or outpatient therapy to cope with balance problems. There is also a small risk that the tumor will come back, so surgical patients will need to be monitored.
