Intraoperative evoked facial muscle responses and recovery process of the facial nerve in acoustic neuroma surgery

The prognostic value of intraoperative evoked facial muscle responses (EFMR) was studied and correlated with the recovery process of the facial nerve during a follow-up period of 18 months. The patients were classified into four groups according to EFMR amplitudes, group A (150 microV or greater, 190.8, SD28.9 microV, n = 24), group B (100-149 microV, 125.7, SD14.3 microV, n = 14), group C (50-99 microV, 79.0, SD17.0 microV, n = 13) and group D (less than 50 microV, 22.1, SD13.3 microV, n = 15). Significant improved facial function appeared at 3 months after the operation in group A, at 6 months in group B, at 9 months in group C and at 12 months in group D. The early postoperative facial function and facial outcome of groups A and B were significantly better than those of groups C and D. Our data revealed that the intraoperative EFMR amplitudes have more prognostic value in predicting the recovery process of the nerve than functional outcome.