Surgical treatment of vertigo in cochlear implantees by electrode resealing

Abstract

Conclusion: Our present findings demonstrate that resealing to cover the electrode is an effective method to treat vertigo after CI. An insufficient cochleostomy sealing can be regarded as a cause of postoperatively newly occuring vertigo after CI. A transtympanic revision is a promising treatment option in cases of post-operative dizziness.

Intoduction: A well-known and frequently reported complication after cochlear implantation is the appearance of postoperative vertigo symptoms. The aim of the present study was to observe if the postoperatively new occurrence of vertigo can be treated by resealing of the round window patch after cochlear implantation.

Material and methods: A retrospective analysis revealed that 10 patients underwent revision surgery transtympanally. Vertigo was assessed preoperatively and directly postoperatively and after 6 month after revision surgery by using the Dizziness Handycap Inventory (DHI).

Results: The most common symptom was rotating vertigo. A spontanous nystagmus was seen in four cases. No nystagmus was found after the revision surgery. In three cases, the onset of dizziness was associated with an event (sneezing, otitis media, climbing a mountain). A preoperative CT showed insuspectible results in seven patients but revealed pathologies two patients. Vertigo was improved significantly in six patients, and three of them were symptom-free.

Chinese abstract

结论：我们目前的研究结果表明, 重新密封电极是治疗CI后眩晕症的有效方法。耳蜗闭合不全可以被认为是CI术后眩晕的原因。对于术后眩晕, 鼓室修复是一种有希望的治疗方案。

引言：人工耳蜗植入术后常见的并发症是术后眩晕症。本研究的目的是确定术后新发生的眩晕是否可以在耳蜗植入后通过圆窗再密封来进行治疗。

材料与方法：回顾性分析显示, 10例患者接受了鼓室修正手术。在术前和术后以及修复手术6个月后根据眩晕清单（DHI）进行了眩晕检测。

结果：最常见的症状是旋转性眩晕。 4例患者发生自发性眼震。修复手术后没有发现眼球震颤。三例患者的头晕发生与事件（打喷嚏, 中耳炎, 爬山）有关。术前CT显示7例患者不受这样的影响, 但两例发现病理特征。6例患者眩晕有明显改善, 其中3例无症状。

Keywords:

• Cochlear implant
• vertigo
• resealing
• round window

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.