Inpatient Rehabilitation of Cerebellopontine Angle Epidermoid Cysts: Report of 3 Cases

摘要

Objective: To demonstrate the inpatient rehabilitation potential of cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst patients. Because of their location, symptoms may present with a complex combination of headache, cerebellar dysfunction, and cranial nerve deficits affecting functional status. Methods: This report describes the cases of 3 patients with cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cysts who underwent neuro-surgical resection followed by inpatient rehabilitation. All 3 patients experienced gait instability and cranial nerve deficits before surgery, and 2 of the patients had mild cognitive deficits. A customized rehabilitation program for these patients can address these deficits. Results: Each patient showed demonstrable gains in function with inpatient rehabilitation and good outcomes at discharge. Conclusions: When rehabilitating epidermoid cyst patients, the clinician must be aware of a higher likelihood of cranial neuropathies, need for increased psychosocial support, and the need for more vigilant long-term medical monitoring to detect recurrence.