Long-term clinical course and temporal bone histology after cochlear implantation.
OBJECTIVE
Illustrate long-term follow-up clinical and histologic data from a patient with unilateral multichannel cochlear implantation.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Clinical history, evolution of audiometric findings, and results of temporal bone histopathology of a patient implanted with a Nucleus 22 system in the right ear were analysed and interpreted.


RESULTS
Audiometry showed severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which progressed in the non-implanted ear postoperatively. With the implanted ear, speech perception was excellent postoperatively and remained stable over 5 years. Histology showed a relatively small number of spiral ganglion cells bilaterally.


CONCLUSIONS
Cochlear implantation can provide stable hearing in light of deteriorating hearing loss in the non-implanted ear. Only a small number of surviving ganglion cells were necessary for the implant.
Gassner
Holger G
HG
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Shallop
Jon K
JK
Driscoll
Colin L W
CL