title: Pain in cochlear implant recipients: an uncommon, yet serious, consequence of cochlear implantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe pain around the receiver/stimulator [RS] presenting months to years after implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of all cochlear implant recipients complaining of pain around their RS through the years 2009 through 2013, with a follow-up of at least 6 months. Excluded from the study were patients with an identifiable cause for their pain such as trauma, local infection, or skin breakdown. The therapy regimen and outcomes were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients complained of delayed pain over their RS, representing 2.8% of 1,044 implantations performed at the Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel, as of 2013. The time from implantation to the presentation of pain ranged from 3 months to 12 years. The pain was perceptible even when the external magnet and processor were not used, and was usually most obvious in specific points around the RS. Seventy-seven percent of our patients responded well to conservative therapy. Fifteen (50%) responded to prolonged antibiotic treatment. Five patients (17%) responded to antiinflammatories alone. One patient (3%) responded to deactivation of two electrodes. Six patients (20%) required reimplantation, after which the pain resolved in all. At explantation, no signs of infection, foreign body reaction, or obvious device damage were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delayed pain around the RS that is unrelated to use is a serious consequence of cochlear implantation, and in some cases, those necessitating reimplantation, should be considered a major complication.
  
  
  METHODS
  4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yisgav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.affiliation: Hearing, Speech and Language Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Communication Disorders , Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yifat
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaar-Soffer
authors.affiliation: Hearing, Speech and Language Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Communication Disorders , Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Minka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hildesheimer
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Lela
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Migirov
authors.affiliation: Hearing, Speech and Language Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Communication Disorders , Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Henkin
mesh_terms: D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003638:Deafness / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Cochlear implant; complications; pain