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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Complications of paediatric cochlear implantation: experience in Izmir
Tolga Kandogan1, Olgun Levent, Gultekin Gurol
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, SSK Izmir Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. tkandogan@yahoo.com
Insights
Cochlear implantation (CI) surgery in children is relatively safe, with a low rate of major complications. This study found 12.33% major and 6.6% minor complications, with no life-threatening events or facial paralysis.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cochlear implantation (CI) is a complex surgical procedure for hearing loss.
- CI surgery involves risks inherent to major surgery and device implantation.
- Evaluating complication rates is crucial for assessing CI safety in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of intra- and post-operative complications in pediatric cochlear implantation.
- To categorize complications into major and minor based on clinical significance and management.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 227 cochlear implant operations in 205 children.
- Complications were defined as major (requiring intervention, significant morbidity) or minor (resolving spontaneously or with conservative treatment).
Main Results:
- Overall complication rate was 18.93% (6.6% minor, 12.33% major).
- Most frequent minor complication: dizziness and vomiting (3.08%).
- Most frequent major complication: device trauma (9.69%), followed by CSF gusher (2.2%) and facial paresis (0.4%).
- All device trauma cases were successfully re-implanted.
- No life-threatening complications or permanent facial nerve paralysis were observed.
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implantation in children is a relatively safe procedure.
- Major complications are infrequent and within acceptable limits for pediatric CI.
- The findings support the continued use of CI for hearing restoration in children.
Abstract:
Surgery for cochlear implantation (CI) bears the risks of complication associated with all major surgery, in addition to the particular risks associated with implanting a foreign body into the peripheral auditory system. Here we present a retrospective study involving 227 cochlear implant operations in 205 children to evaluate the rate of intra- and post-operative complications. Complications were defined as major complications, requiring explantation of the device or further operation, causing a significant medical problem, or leading to any degree of facial paralysis or requiring additional hospitalization for treatment; or defined as minor complications, namely those that settled spontaneously, with conservative treatment, with local care and/or with medication alone. In our study there were 15 (6.6 per cent) minor and 28 (12.33 per cent) major complications. The most frequent minor complication was dizziness and vomiting (3.08 per cent), followed by transient hemifacial oedema (1.76 per cent), head pain (1.32 per cent) and mild ataxia (0.4 per cent). The most frequent major complication was trauma to the device (9.69 per cent), followed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gusher (2.2 per cent) and facial paresis (0.4 per cent). All of the device trauma cases were re-implanted. There were neither any life-threatening complications nor any facial nerve paralysis in our implanted children. This study confirms that CI is relatively safe and that major complications are few and within acceptable limits.
