MedlinePlus describes acoustic neuroma--also known as a vestibular schwannoma--as a noncancerous growth that develops on the acoustic nerve, or the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. It may be part of a generalized condition called neurofibromatosis where similar growths are found all over the body in relation to nerves. Acoustic neuroma can cause complications when it enlarges, including balance problems, ringing in the ears and even loss of hearing, and the condition may require surgery.
Injury to Facial Nerve
A 1994 study published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery" discusses the possibility of injury to the facial nerve while operating to remove an acoustic neuroma. An injury to the facial nerve can cause paralysis of half of the face: the patient will have trouble eating and smiling, and the lower half of the face will droop. Also, facial paralysis will make closing the eyelid of the involved half of the face impossible, which will eventually cause dry eye and make the eye liable for ulceration if the issue is not properly addressed.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage From the Nose
MayoClinic.com lists leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid, or CFS, as one of the potential complications of acoustic neuroma surgery. The cerebrospinal fluid is the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. If this fluid leaks through the nose, the patient will notice a clear watery discharge. The patient needs to report to his surgeon upon suspicion of this serious complication, because a cerebrospinal fluid leak predisposes the patient to meningitis and brain infection.
Hearing Loss
According to the Acoustic Neuroma Association of New Jersey, preservation of hearing rarely occurs after neuroma removal surgery. The removal of small tumors--less than 2 or 1.5 cm--may preserve the patient's hearing, although even in this case hearing loss may not be successfully avoided. Hearing loss resulting from to this surgery is due to damage of the cochlear nerve fibers, which are responsible for hearing, while removing the tumor. At times, this hearing loss may not even manifest immediately post-operatively.
References
- MedlinePlus: Acoustic Neuroma
- "Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery"; Facial nerve outcome after acoustic neuroma surgery: a study from the era of cranial nerve monitoring; Lalwani A.K., et. al.; November 1994
- Mayo Clinic: Acoustic Neuroma
- Acoustic Neuroma Association of New Jersey: Post-Operative Conditions
