Surgical Treatment

            Surgical intervention is considered only if medical treatment has failed and the patient is suffering from incapacitating vertigo.  Typically, failure to respond to 3-6 months of medical therapy warrants surgery.

            Every effort is made to conserve hearing.  Therefore, the type of surgery depends on the amount of hearing loss in the affected ear.  Depending on the type of surgery, there is an excellent chance of controlling the attacks of vertigo.  These attacks may be replaced by a feeling of unsteadiness or lightheadedness for a period of 6-12 months until the brain and the opposite ear take over balance function.

Transtympanic Gentamicin

Endolymphatic Sac Surgeries

Vestibular Neurectomy (aka Vestibular Nerve Section or VNS)

Labyrinthectomy