Resolution of facial stimulation in otosclerotic cochlear implants.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the incidence of facial nerve stimulation in a population of patients with otosclerosis implanted with the Nucleus 22, Clarion 1.2, or Clarion High Focus (CHF) device.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was used for 147 patients who had been implanted with electronic cochlear devices at the University of Minnesota between June 1986 and February 2001. Seventy-four patients were implanted with the Nucleus 22, 41 patients were implanted with the Clarion 1.2 (without a positioner), and 32 patients were implanted with the CHF I or II.


RESULTS
Eleven (14.9%) of the 74 patients implanted with the Nucleus 22 device had facial stimulation. There were 9 patients with otosclerosis. Seven (78%) of the 9 patients with otosclerosis had facial stimulation. One (2.4%) of the 41 patients implanted with the Clarion 1.2 device (without a positioner) had facial stimulation and that 1 (100%) patient in the group had otosclerosis. There were 4 patients in the CHF group with otosclerosis. One patient experienced stimulation, but it was possible to decrease maximum current levels and still use the electrode pair.


CONCLUSIONS
Facial stimulation appears to be less problematic in patients with otosclerosis implanted with the CHF devices.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Box 396 UMHC, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Mark G
MG
Rayner
Timothy
T
King
Hamid R
HR
Djalilian
Sharon
S
Smith
Samuel C
SC
Levine
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed