Classification of cochlear implant complications using a modified Clavien-Dindo classification

Cochlear implantation (CI) surgery is a highly effective procedure for severe to profound hearing loss, with a low complication rate. There are currently multiple grading systems for CI surgery complications, making comparison of outcomes difficult. We propose a modification to the Clavien-Dindo classification of complications, and use this modified classification to analyse our complications.

Complications were classified as: I - Self-limiting complications requiring no treatment or simple pharmacological therapies; II - Complications requiring pharmacological interventions other than those permitted under the criteria for Grade I, or non-invasive radiological imaging; IIIa - Complications necessitating surgical, radiological or endoscopic intervention, but excluding implant explantation and/or reimplantation. IIIb - Complications necessitating implant explantation and/or reimplantation.

1053 patients were recorded as having had at least one cochlear implant inserted with 114 complications reported in 90 patients. The 114 complications were classified into the proposed classification with 18 (15.7%) as Grade I, 36 (31.5%) as Grade II, 17 (14.9%) as Grade IIIa and 43 (34.2%) as Grade IIIb.

We found a low complication rate, and were able to use the modified Clavien-Dindo classification system to analyse our data. We would strongly advocate for a uniform reporting system and propose this modification of a widely used system.