title: Implantation of the common cavity malformation may prevent meningitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVES AND IMPORTANCE: Children with certain congenital malformations of the inner ear, including those with a common cavity defect, have a higher incidence of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and resulting meningitis. However, they may also benefit from cochlear implantation. We suggest that surgical management may be possible that both prevents meningitis and provides hearing rehabilitation during the same procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-year-old girl with bilateral common cavity defects who had previously undergone cochlear implantation developed contralateral CSF leak resulting in meningitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  After resolution of the infection, cochlear implantation was performed at the same time as definitive CSF leak repair. Simultaneous cochlear implantation and repair of the CSF leak successfully decreased the chance of recurrent meningitis in this case. She has been deriving hearing benefit from the bilateral implants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case suggests a role for cochlear implantation to be combined with simultaneous CSF leak repair in children with a cochlear malformation. Furthermore, bilateral cochlear implantation at an early age may be warranted in these patients before CSF leaks and meningitis have occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: J Thomas
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Roland
mesh_terms: D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012086:Reoperation; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed