Labyrinthectomy to correct vertigo

Labyrinthectomy is one of the oldest procedures for the control of intractable vertigo and remains perhaps the most definitive way to destroy vestibular function in a diseased ear. The high rates of control for vertigo are achieved at the expense of the sacrifice of any residual hearing in the operated ear. As a result, the procedure is reserved for patients with nonserviceable hearing in the operated ear. Unfortunately, there is no uniformly accepted definition of nonserviceable hearing. Hence, the procedure is not frequently used today, because there is a trend to preserve hearing during treatment. It remains the gold standard by which cure rates for vertigo should be compared with initial success in more than 90% of cases. If the hearing is poor, it remains a viable option in the treatment of vertigo, particularly in patients who have failed other treatments, and in the elderly patient, who may not be a candidate for an intracranial procedure.