Osteomyelitis, lateral sinus thrombosis, and temporal lobe infarction caused by infection of a percutaneous cochlear implant.
OBJECTIVE
Cochlear implantation has become a routine operation in the last 10 years. The most common soft tissue complications with transcutaneous cochlear implants include infection or necrosis of the flap and extrusion of the implant and device failure. The most common complication reported with percutaneous devices include minor skin irritations at the pedestal site, retraction of skin from the pedestal site, and loosening of screws that retain the pedestal. We describe one case of lateral sinus thrombosis and secondary temporal lobe infarction caused by infection of a screw anchoring the percutaneous pedestal of an Ineraid implant.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracranial complications of a percutaneous bone-anchored pedestal may occur with little prodrome. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the pedestal and bone anchoring screws may be indicated if local evidence of infection persists.
Staecker
H
H
Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA.
Chow
H
H
Nadol
J B
JB
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D020227:Lateral Sinus Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002701:Chloramphenicol