Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring: A comparison of stimulating electrodes

Preservation of the facial nerve during acoustic neuroma resection may be enhanced by the use of intraoperative electrical stimulation. Although stimulation of the extratemporal facial nerve is an effective and established procedure, anatomic differences of the intradural facial nerve and its microenvironment demand more exacting stimulus protocols. The absence of epineurium may make the intradural nerve more susceptible to mechanical or electrical trauma while intermittent pooling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the cerebellopontine angle may shunt current away from nerve.