Cochlear reimplantations: technical and surgical failures.
CONCLUSIONS
Cochlear implant surgeons should have a good knowledge of how to diagnose device failures and how to deal with medical complications related to cochlear implantation. Electrode array misplacement may be due to unidentified inner ear malformation. Use of peroperative telemetry and radiographic examination should help to avoid such complications.


OBJECTIVE
To review our experience of cochlear implant revision surgery and to compare our series to the literature. To report two cases of electrode array misplacement into the vestibular system and to discuss how to prevent this complication.


METHODS
This was a retrospective review of cochlear implant revision surgery in a tertiary reference center.


RESULTS
Of 487 cochlear implantations, 3.8% of adults and 4.5% of children underwent a revision surgery. The mean time to device failure was 7.6 years in children and 1.5 year in adults. Causes of revision were seven hard failures, four soft failures, and nine medical reasons. Among the medical reasons, four patients had skin flap infection associated with an extended endaural approach. Audiologic performances were stable or improved following reimplantation in 90% of cases. We had two cases of electrode array misplaced into the vestibular system.
Sorrentino
Tommaso
T
Department of Otology-Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Purpan University Hospital, Toulouse, France. tomsorre@tin.it
Coté
Mathieu
M
Eter
Elie
E
Laborde
Marie-Laurence
ML
Cochard
Nadine
N
Deguine
Olivier
O
Fraysse
Bernard
B
D000328:Adult; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure