Impact of Motor-Evoked Potential Monitoring on Facial Nerve Outcomes after Vestibular Schwannoma Resection

Objectives: Assess the utility of intraoperative transcranial facial motor-evoked potential (FMEP) monitoring in predicting and improving facial function after vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: Data were obtained from 82 consecutive VS resections meeting inclusion criteria. Sixty-two cases were performed without FMEP and 20 with FMEP. Degradation of FMEP response was defined as a final-to-baseline amplitude ratio of 0.5 or less. House-Brackmann (HB) grade was assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, at follow-up assessments, and it was compared between pre- and post-FMEP cohorts. Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity of FMEP degradation in predicting facial weakness were calculated. Results: In the pre-FMEP group, at length of follow-up (LOF) > 9 months, 83.9% (52/62) of patients exhibited HB 1-2 outcome. In the post-FMEP cohort, 75.0% (15/20) exhibited HB 1-2 function at LOF > 9 months. There was no difference in rates of HB 1-2 outcomes between groups in the immediate postoperative period (P = .35) or at long-term follow-up (P = 1.0). With respect to predicting immediate postoperative facial function, FMEP demonstrated high specificity (88.9%) and moderate sensitivity (54.5%). The PPV and NPV for immediate postoperative facial function were 85.7% and 61.5%, respectively. With respect to long-term (> 9 months LOF) facial function, intraoperative FMEP was moderately sensitive (71.4%) and highly specific (84.6%); PPV was moderate (71.4%), and NPV was high (84.6%). Conclusions: Intraoperative FMEP is highly specific and moderately sensitive in predicting postoperative facial function for patients undergoing VS resection, but its use may not be associated with improved facial nerve outcomes.