Cochlear implantation in children with inner ear malformation

Introduction:

Among the children with congenital hearing loss, patients with an inner ear malformation sets higher demands for the treating cochlear implant(CI)-center. The goal of this study was to evaluate this subgroup and compare to the pre-, intra- and postoperative treatment with that of profoundly hearing impaired or deaf children without malformation.

Methods:

Within the range of 6 years, we identified 58 children < 6 years of age with an inner ear malformation during CI-preexamination. The subgroup of children with malformation having received a CI (n = 19, 48%) were compared retrospectively to a control group (n = 90, < 6 years without malformation), regarding the duration of surgery, duration of stay in hospital, as well as the need for IMC and occurrence of perioperative complications.

Results:

40 children with an inner ear malformation (69%) had an indication for cochlear implantation. Until now 12 (30%) were implanted unilaterally, 7 (18%) bilaterally in one operation. There was no significant difference between one- or two-sided implantation regarding the duration of surgery or inpatient treatment, in comparison to the control group. In contrast to the control group (3 children (3%)) there was no need for a postoperative surveillance at the IMC-ward. There were no perioperative complications in both groups.

Conclusion:

It can be stated that cochlear implantation in children with inner ear malformations is an efficient and safe treatment in a specialized hospital and can be compared with cochlear implantation in children without deformities.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Dr. med. Daniela Guderian

Univ. HNO-Klinik,

Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590,

Frankfurt/M.

Email: [e-mail]

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)