Abstract
Background
Although previous studies have described the clinical features of the nervus intermedius (NI), no attempt has yet been made to describe the relationship between the ultrastructural and electrophysiological characteristics of the nervus intermedius and its motor competence.
Objective
In this study, we analyzed the intraoperative electrophysiological response obtained during vestibular schwannoma surgery. The ultrastructure was studied using electron microscopy.
Materials and Methods
Thirty-six consecutive patients underwent microsurgery for vestibular schwannoma with cerebellopontine angle tumors. The patients were extensively monitored intraoperatively. Selective stimulation of the nervus intermedius was attempted in all cases. The patients were then examined postoperatively and followed for a minimum of 1 year. Forty-three isolated human brainstems were analyzed to collect the ultrastructural NI data.
Results
We found a correlation between the NI motor responses in the perinasal and perioral regions and the ultrastructure characteristics, with few (0.5 %) but large myelinated motor fibers (diameters >12 μm). Both characteristics are consistent with the clinical observation of transient weakness of the levator anguli oris muscle. These observations indicate a relationship between the intraoperative electrophysiological identification of the NI nervus intermedius and its clinical and ultrastructural characteristics.
Conclusions
Identifying the NI in the deformed anatomy of tumors could provide a fixed landmark during cerebellopontine surgery and help prevent damage of the facial nerve.
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Acknowledgments
Drs. Alfieri and Rampp contributed equally to the study. We are grateful to Mr. Heine and Dr. Litvak for their remarkable contribution to this study. The patient authorized the publication of the images.
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None.
Funding
Wilhelm Roux Foundation, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
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Alfieri, A., Rampp, S., Strauss, C. et al. The relationship between nervus intermedius anatomy, ultrastructure, electrophysiology, and clinical function. Usefulness in cerebellopontine microsurgery. Acta Neurochir 156, 403–408 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-013-1952-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-013-1952-1