What type of surgical technique is primarily avoided in translabyrinthine approaches?

In translabyrinthine approaches, the technique primarily avoids maintaining auditory function. This surgical approach is utilized mainly for access to the internal auditory canal and removal of vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas) or other tumors that affect the cerebellopontine angle.

During this procedure, the labyrinth of the inner ear is intentionally sacrificed, which leads to the inevitable loss of hearing on the affected side. The primary goal of the translabyrinthine approach is to ensure complete removal of the tumor while providing direct access to the structures of interest, such as the vestibular nerve and the facial nerve. As a result, preserving hearing is not a priority in this technique, which is specifically designed to facilitate direct access to lesions without the intention of maintaining auditory function.

In contrast, preserving cochlear function, accessing the trigeminal nerve, and minimizing craniotomy size are considerations relevant to other surgical techniques, particularly those focused on hearing preservation or limiting the invasiveness of the procedure.