Vestibular Rehabilitation Protocol in Unilateral Vestibular Schwannoma
This study tests whether special exercises for balance and dizziness, done before and after surgery for a vestibular schwannoma (a non-cancerous brain tumor), can help patients recover better. Vestibular schwannomas affect balance and hearing, and this research aims to find the best rehabilitation approach to improve these functions.
Key Objective: The trial evaluates whether vestibular rehabilitation exercises performed before and after surgery can improve balance, dizziness, and overall recovery in patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma.
Who to Consider: Adults diagnosed with unilateral vestibular schwannoma who are planning to have surgery or have recently had surgery should consider enrolling in this study.
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Brief Summary The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether different strategies of vestibular rehabilitation, performed before and after surgery, can improve recovery in adults diagnosed with unilateral vestibular schwannoma. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Does preoperative vestibular telerehabilitation improve postoperative vestibular compensation compared with no intervention? Does adding preoperative rotatory chair stimulation to telerehabilitation lead to greater improvements in balance, dizziness, or hospital length of stay? The study includes three comparison groups: No-intervention group: Participants do not receive pre- or postoperative rehabilitation, but complete all study assessments (vHIT, DHI, posturography, and hospital length of stay). Telerehabilitation group: Participants complete a structured home-based vestibular telerehabilitation program (ReHub) for 3 weeks before surgery and again for 3 weeks after surgery. Rotatory Chair + Telerehabilitation group: Participants receive the same telerehabilitation program as the telerehabilitation group, plus six supervised sessions of preoperative rotatory chair stimulation (two sessions per week for three weeks), following a progressive protocol in the ENT department using a CE-marked clinical rotatory chair. Participants will: Attend routine preoperative and postoperative assessments (vHIT, posturography, and DHI). Complete home-based vestibular exercises through a digital telerehabilitation platform (Groups 2 and 3). If assigned to the Rotatory Chair + Telerehabilitation group, attend six in-hospital sessions of controlled rotatory chair stimulation during the three weeks before surgery. Undergo follow-up evaluations at 4 and 12 weeks after surgery. This study aims to determine whether structured vestibular training conducted before and after surgery can enhance postoperative compensation and reduce symptom burden in patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 70 years * Tumor size between 1.5 cm and 4 cm * Unilateral vestibular schwannoma Exclusion Criteria: * Degenerative neurological conditions * History of cerebrovascular disease * Musculoskeletal deformities