Recovery of turning speed in patients after vestibular schwannoma resection

BACKGROUND: Individuals after a vestibular schwannoma resection (VSR) experience significant vestibular symptoms that can be provoked with turning. Vestibular rehabilitation assists in recovery of function and symptom relief, however turning response is unknown. OBJECTIVE: Examine peak turning speed response to surgery and rehabilitation. METHODS: Eight participants with a vestibular schwannoma (PwVS) and five healthy controls (HC) participated in this study. Peak turning speed (PTS) was captured with inertial measurement units (IMU) at the head and/or trunk during turning tasks at a pre-operative, post-operative and post-treatment assessment. Vestibular rehabilitation was provided twice weekly for six weeks. Linear mixed models were used to assess change in PTS across time points. RESULTS: PwVS performed slower PTS than HC prior to surgery. PTS was significantly slower post-operatively compared to pre-operative during walking with head turns (B = -61.03, p = 0.004), two-minute walk test (B = -37.33, p = 0.015), 360° turn (B range from 50.05 to -57.4, p < 0.05) and complex turning course (CTC) at the trunk (B = -18.63, p = 0.009). Post-treatment PTS was significantly faster than pre-operative during CTC at the head (B = 18.46, p = 0.014) and trunk (B = 15.99, p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: PwVS may have turning deficits prior to surgical resection. PTS was significantly affected post-operatively, however improved with rehabilitation.