Cochlear implantation outcomes in patients with otosclerosis: a single-centre study

To analyse surgical and auditory outcomes after cochlear implantation in otosclerosis and to compare them to the outcomes in patients with post-lingual hearing loss with different aetiology.

Medical records of 17 subjects (22 ears) diagnosed with otosclerosis were compared to 21 controls (25 ears) matched by age, sex, duration of hearing loss and experience with cochlear implant in years. Demographic characteristics, surgical complications, facial nerve stimulation, number and reason for deactivated electrodes and auditory outcome (monosyllabic word score) were analysed. The auditory outcome was further evaluated according to the anatomical localisation of the otosclerotic lesions (grades) and compared between patients with active and deactivated electrodes.

Otosclerotic patients showed similar surgical outcome in comparison to the controls. A low frequency (13.6%) of facial nerve stimulation was observed in otosclerosis. A significantly higher (p = 0.014) number of deactivated electrodes (4.3%) in subjects with otosclerosis in comparison to non-otosclerosis patients (1.6%) was found. A trend of less speech discrimination of monosyllabic words (65%) in otosclerosis than in non-otosclerosis patients (80%) (p = 0.109) and no difference in the postoperative auditory assessment with regard to the disease grade and electrode disabling was found.

Cochlear implantation by otosclerosis provides excellent auditory outcome with a low rate of surgical complications. Alteration in fitting strategy as electrodes disabling is frequently needed to overcome complications as incomplete insertion, facial nerve stimulation and poor sound quality.