title: Vestibular function after cochlear implant surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze vestibular function in cochlear implant (CI) patients for iatrogenic damage to vestibular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study. Tertiary care audiological center. Twenty-five subjects receiving surgery for cochlear implantation during 2012 and 2013 were analyzed. Both vestibulo-ocular and vestibulo-spinal responses before and 2 months after CI surgery were evaluated using several tests: analysis of spontaneous nystagmus, head shaking test (HST), and head impulse test recorded by videooculography; caloric stimulation at 44° and 30° in both ears; cervical evoked myogenic potentials and static stabilometry. Residual cochlear function was tested by air-conduction pure-tone audiometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our tests showed damage to vestibular receptors after CI surgery in 12% of the patients; in particular, horizontal semicircular canal function and saccular function had lower responses after surgery. Audiometric results showed poorer thresholds after CI surgery. The static stabilometry results indicate good vestibulo-spinal responses and patients did not report disequilibrium nor postural deficit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All data suggest an efficient vestibular compensation mechanism in CI patients.
authors.affiliation: a ENT Audio-Vestibology Unit, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione MACCHI , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meli
authors.affiliation: a ENT Audio-Vestibology Unit, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione MACCHI , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Bernadette Musumeci
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Aud
authors.affiliation: a ENT Audio-Vestibology Unit, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione MACCHI , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Simona Tognocchi
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Aud
authors.affiliation: a ENT Audio-Vestibology Unit, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione MACCHI , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella Gaggi
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Aud
authors.affiliation: a ENT Audio-Vestibology Unit, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione MACCHI , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cristofari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003051:Cochlea / Q000503:physiopathology; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Caloric stimulation; Cervical VEMP; Cochlear implant; Stabilometry; Vestibular compensation; Vestibular function; Vestibulo-ocular; Vestibulo-spinal